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Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

1989

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Biology

First Advisor

Bruce H. Janke

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to develop procedures for PAGE of rotaviral double-stranded RNA in porcine feces and intestinal contents, to evaluate the usefulness of this procedure as a diagnostic tool in veterinary medicine, and to determine the prevalence of typical (group A) and atypical (groups B-F) rotaviruses in the swine population. Samples of intestinal contents and feces in which rotavirus was detected by electron microscopy (EM) were collected for two years (1986-1988) from field cases of porcine diarrhea submitted to the South Dakota Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (SDADRDL) at South Dakota State University. Samples were analyzed by PAGE to determine the electropherotypes. The results reveal that typical and atypical rotaviruses are common in the swine raising region of the upper Midwest. One hundred and forty-six samples of intestinal contents containing rotavirus from diarrheic pigs were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. RNA segment migrational patterns characteristic of rotavirus were evident in 90 samples (62%). Electropherotypes in 61 samples (68%) were characteristic of group A rotavirus, 9 samples (10%) of group B, 10 samples (11%) of group C, and 10 samples (11%) contained more than 11 segments, indicating coinfection. A greater percentage of the non-group A rotaviruses were in weaned pigs than in nursing pigs. Differences in migration of RNA segments from 35 group A rotavirus samples were compared to OSU and Gottfried prototype viruses by co-electrophoresis. This analysis indicated a wide variety of electropherotypes exist within the group A rotavirus.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

RNA viruses

Swine -- Virus diseases

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

65

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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