Epidemiological studies on equine rotavirus infection in foals of organized farms in India

Prevalence of rotavirus infection was studied among diarrhoeic foals. Stool samples (164) collected from diarrhoeic foals were tested for group A rotavirus by ELISA and RT-PCR. The overall prevalence of ERV in diarrhoeic foals was 35.4%. Virus was isolated from 30 positive stool samples in MA104 cells. ERV prevalence during 2004-06 ranged between 36-45%, with no significant year-to-year variation. There was negative correlation between the age of foals and rotavirus infection, prevalence being significantly more in foals below 2 weeks of age (44.2%) than in older foals (20%). ERV prevalence in foals was significantly higher in March-April as compared to subsequent months of foaling season. RNA-PAGE of 43 rotavirus-positive specimens identified at least 5 different electropherotypes among ERVS in these farms. VP7 genotyping by RT-PCR of the representative isolates revealed that a significant number of ERVs belong to G3 serotypes. The study indicated the existence of diversity in rotavirus strains causing diarrhoea in foals in India.