Rotavirus is a leading etiological agent responsible for causing economically significant disease in neonates of many species of animals. The virus has segmented genome, consisting of 11 segments of dsRNA which can be resolved into discrete segments using RNA–PAGE. In the present study three hundred twelve ovine faecal samples collected from different sheep farms in and around Jammu, J&K were examined by RNA-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (RNA-PAGE) technique for determination of prevalence of rotavirus in ovines. Forty-two out of three hundred twelve samples (13.46%) depicted a characteristic 4-2-3-2 migration pattern, characteristic of group A rotavirus. No sample demonstrated any unusual electropherotypic pattern of more than eleven genome segments.
Rotavirus, ovines, RNA-PAGE, electropherotypes
