Calf Diarrhea (Scours): Reproduced with a Virus from a Field Outbreak

Authors

C. A. Mebus
N. R. Underdahl
M. B. Rhodes
M. J. Twiehaus

Date of this Version

3-1969

Document Type

Article

Citation

Mebus, C.A., Underdahl, N.R., Rhodes, M.B. and Twiehaus, M.J. (1969) Calf diarrhea (Scours): Reproduced with a virus from a field outbreak (Research Bulletin: Bulletin of the Agricultural Experiment Station of Nebraska No. 233)

Comments

ISSN 0097-1564

Abstract

Neonatal calf diarrhea typical of that seen in field cases was produced in colostrum-deprived calves by inoculating either feces or bacteria-free filtrates via the duodenum, orally, or by a spray (aerosol). Three calves, kept free of E. coli, developed severe diarrhea following inoculation with a bacteria-free filtrate. Intense fluorescence in the epithelium of sections of small intestine from two experimental calves was observed following staining with ftuorescein-labeled gamma globulin produced with viral antigen prepared from the feces of two experimental diarrhetic E. coli-free calves. Fluorescing cells were also present in the feces of experimental and field cases of neonatal calf diarrhea. The etiologic agent of the calf diarrhea reported here is believed to be a virus, observed by electron microscopy, having a diameter of approximately 65 mμ.