Isolation and characterization of avian rotaviruses

Rotaviruses were isolated from intestinal contents obtained from flocks of turkey poults and pheasant poults with diarrhea and from different age groups of chickens showing various signs of intestinal disorders. The incorporation of 5 micrograms trypsin/ml in the inoculum and medium was essential for virus isolation in chicken kidney cells. All isolates were identified as rotaviruses by fluorescent-antibody technique using a National Institutes of Health reference rotavirus antiserum against human rotavirus strain "D," Type 2. Negative-staining and transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of rotavirus particles. Furthermore, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis pattern of viral RNA segments of our isolates confirmed that they are rotaviruses. Seven-day-old turkey poults could be infected with turkey and chicken rotavirus isolates; in contrast, chicks of the same age were refractory.