COMPARISON OF RESULTS USING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPE, IMMUNODIFFUSION AND FLUORESCENT-ANTIBODY ANALYSES TO DETECT ROTAVIRUS IN DIARRHEIC FECAL SAMPLES OF CALVES

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 43  (1) , 84-89
Abstract
Diarrheic calf fecal samples (79) were examined by EM, immunodiffusion and the fluorescent antibody technique for the presence of rotavirus (reovirus-like agent). Of the samples, 48% [38] were positive by EM, 59% by immunodiffusion and 20% by fluorescent antibody technique analyses. Another 9% were suspect-positive by fluorescent antibody technique. Chymotrypsin treatment of the fecal samples increased the ease of observing the viral particles by EM and also intensified the immunodiffusion arcs obtained. Immunodiffusion analyses using specific antisera to the virus is apparently a practical method of detecting rotavirus in diarrheic fecal samples.