Role of rotavirus (reo-like) in weanling diarrhea of pigs.

Piglets weaned abruptly and precociously at 3 weeks of age and placed in a crowded nursery commenced diarrhea 3 to 5 days later. Death losses were low (approximately 6%), but weight gain ceased for 2 weeks. Large numbers of rotavirus (reo-like) particles were seen by electron microscopy in diarrhetic fluids. Sections of intestines showed a loss of adsorptive surface in that villi were shortened and fused with adjacent villi. Immunofluorescence revealed rotaviral antigens within damaged enterocytes. Rotavirus-containing gut fluid was harvested from sick, weaned piglets. This fluid, filtered free of bacteria, was used to inoculate per os colostrum-deprived piglets. These infected piglets developed diarrhea and dehydration, and large numbers of rotaviral particles were seen in their diarrhetic fluid. Also, rotaviral antigens were present in aberrant enterocytes, and the intestinal villi were shortened. Since the weaned piglets (3 weeks old) came from sows that were providing their piglet's intestine with passive antibody protection via milk, we concluded that the abrupt removal of the piglet from the gut-bathing antibody combined with the stress of weaning produced a neonate vulnerable to the ubiquitous rotavirus. Similar circumstances may prevail and operate in exacerbating rotaviral diarrhea in neonates of other species of mammals.