NEGATIVE CONTRAST ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC TECHNIQUES FOR DIAGNOSIS OF VIRUSES OF VETERINARY IMPORTANCE

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 70  (2) , 125-135
Abstract
Negative contrast electron microscopy (NCEM) was utilized as a routine tool in the diagnosis of viral infections of domestic and wild animals. Viruses identified by this technique were observed in infected culture systems or clinical specimens from several species including horses, cattle, sheep, dogs, cats, pigs, deer, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, antelope and several avian species. Viruses were identified by NCEM based on their size, morphology and symmetry and consisted of adenoviruses, herpesviruses, paramyxoviruses, myxoviruses, picornaviruses, parvoviruses, coronaviruses, reoviruses, rotaviruses and poxviruses. Mixed populations were readily demonstrable by this technique: the most common mixed infections consisted of coronaviruses and rotaviruses, and picornaviruses or parvoviruses with coronaviruses, rotaviruses, herpesviruses or adenoviruses. Immunoelectron microscopy was used to serotype viral agents present in the specimens examined. Viruses identified by this technique were bovine rotaviruses, coronaviruses and herpesviruses and bovine and equine adenoviruses.