CELL-CULTURE PROPAGATION OF PORCINE ROTAVIRUS (REOVIRUS-LIKE AGENT)

Abstract

Two isolates of porcine rotavirus (reovirus-like agent) were isolated and passaged in primary porcine kidney cell cultures. Viral infectivity for cells was monitored by immunofluorescence because viral cytopathic effect was moderate. Successful passage of virus in cell culture required that viral suspensions obtained from infected cell cultures be treatd with pancreatin prior to inoculation onto cell monolayers. Porcine rotavirus passage in cell culture also was accomplished, using trypsin treatments in lieu of pancreatin treatments. Porcine rotavirus passaged 10 times in cell culture infected gnotobiotic pigs and caused diarrhea. Gnotobiotic pigs that recovered from this infection were resistant to challenge exposure with porcine rotavirus but were susceptible to challenge exposure with transmissible gastroenteritis virus. As determined by immunofluorescent cross reactions, porcine rotavirus was antigenically related to the human and bovine rotaviruses but not to reovirus type 3 or to transmissible gastroenteritis virus.