Summary
Experimental lamb rotavirus infections were studied by immunofluorescence, histopathology and electron microscopy of tissues from infected gnotobiotic lambs killed at intervals from the incubation period to recovery. The rotavirus was demonstrated by immunofluorescence only in epithelial cells of villi in the small and large intestine, and virus antigen was most abundant during the incubation period. An increased enterocyte turnover rate was suggested by the rapid movement of virus-infected cells to the villus tip, and this increase may be one of the basic pathogenic mechanisms of rotavirus infection. Principal histopathological changes were shortening of villi and sloughing of epithelial cells. These were greatest in the middle and posterior small intestine at the onset of diarrhoea, but regeneration occurred within a few hours. Virus morphology in tissues was similar to that reported in other species, and virus presence correlated well with histopathological change.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams, W. R., Kraft, L. M.: Electron-microscopic study of the intestinal epithelium of mice infected with the agent of epizootic diarrhoea of infant mice (EDIM virus). Amer. J. Pathol.51, 39–60 (1967).
Bishop, R. F., Davidson, G. P., Holmes, I. H., Ruck, B. J.: Virus particles in epithelial cells of duodenal mucosa from children with acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis. Lancetii, 1281–1283 (1973).
Blaxter, K. L., Wood, W. A.: Some observations on the biochemical and physiological events associated with diarrhoea in calves. Vet. Rec.65, 889–893 (1953).
Bridger, J. C., Woode, G. N.: Characterisation of two particle types of calf rotavirus. J. gen. Virol.31, 245–250 (1976).
Hall, G. A., Bridger, J. C., Chandler, R. L., Woode, G. N.: Gnotobiotic piglets experimentally infected with neonatal calf diarrhoea reovirus-like agent (rotavirus). Vet. Pathol.13, 197–210 (1976).
Halpin, C. G., Caple, I. W.: Changes in intestinal structure and function of neonatal calves infected with reovirus-like agent andEscherichia coli. Aust. vet. J.52, 438–441 (1976).
Holmes, I. H., Rodger, S. M., Schnagl, R. D., Ruck, B. J., Gust, I. D., Bishop, R. F., Barnes, G. L.: Is lactase the receptor and uncoating enzyme for infantile enteritis (rota) viruses? Lanceti, 1387–1389 (1976).
Holmes, I. H., Ruck, B. J., Bishop, R. F., Davidson, G. P.: Infantile enteritis viruses: morphogenesis and morphology. J. Virol.16, 937–943 (1975).
McNulty, M. S., Allan, G. M., Pearson, G. B., McFerran, J. B., Curran, W. L., McCracken, R. M.: Studies on a reovirus-like agent (rotavirus) from lambs. Infect. Immun.14, 1332–1338 (1976).
Mebus, C. A., Stair, E. L., Underdahl, N. R., Twiehaus, M. J.: Pathology of neonatal calf diarrhoea induced by a reo-like virus. Vet. Pathol.8, 490–505 (1971).
Moon, H. W., Joel, D. D.: Epithelial cell migration in the small intestine of sheep and calves. Amer. J. vet. Res.36, 187–189 (1975).
Nordstrom, C., Dahlqvist, A.: Quantitative distribution of some enzymes along the villi and crypts of human small intestine. Scand. J. Gastroenterol.8, 407–416 (1973).
Snodgrass, D. R., Herring, J. A., Gray, E. W.: Experimental rotavirus infection in lambs. J. comp. Pathol.86, 637–642, (1976).
Snodgrass, D. R., Wells, P. W.: Rotavirus infection in lambs: studies on passive protection. Arch. Virol.52, 201–205 (1976).
Stair, E. L., Mebus, C. A., Twiehaus, M. J., Underdahl, N. R.: Neonatal calf diarrhoea. Electron microscopy of intestines infected with a reovirus-like agent. Vet. Pathol.10, 155–170 (1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
With 11 Figures
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Snodgrass, D.R., Angus, K.W. & Gray, E.W. Rotavirus infection in lambs: Pathogenesis and pathology. Archives of Virology 55, 263–274 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01315048
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01315048