Pathology of rotavirus infection in calves and detection of viral antigen by ELISA and FAT

The present study was conducted to investigate the pathology of rotavirus infection in calves with the history of diarrhoea, and confirmation by ELISA and FAT. Out of 24 dead calves received for postmortem with the history of diarrhea, 9 calves were examined by post mortem. Grossly, no pathological changes were observed except congestion of small intestinal mucosa. Enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) screening of the fecal samples/intestinal contents revealed rotavirus infection in 5 calves. The histopathological changes mainly confined to jejunum and ileum. The lesions of rotavirus enteritis ranged from virtually no visible lesions to villous blunting and necrotic crypts. The presence of rotavirus in the affected tissues and/or lesions was confirmed by direct fluorescent antibody technique (FAT).