RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF BOVINE ROTAVIRUS BY ELECTROPHORESIS IN AGAROSE-GEL

Horizontal electrophoresis of the rotavirus genome in agarose (EPA), indirect immunoenzymatic analysis (ELISA) and counter-immunoelectroosmophoresis (CIEOP) were compared for the identification of rotavirus in 94 feces samples collected from scouring calves in 6 rearing premises. Positive results by all three methods were obtained in 48 animals (51 %), most effective being ELISA and EPA (both 43) and least effective CIEOP (29). The sensitivity of the rotavirus genome demonstration by EPA was equal to that of indirect ELISA (88 %), which demonstrates the group-specific rotavirus antigen. The sensitivities of EPA and ELISA were higher by 31 % than that of CIEOP. Identical results of ELISA and EPA, CIEOP and EPA, and ELISA and CIEOP were obtained in 89.3, 82.9 and 80.8 %, respectively. Compared with ELISA and CIEOP, EPA is a straightforward procedure involving neither a complicated processing of samples, nor the preparation of a specific hyperimmune serum. The time required for EPA equals to one half and one fifth of the time necessary for ELISA and CIEOP, respectively.