Patterns of shedding of human reovirus-like agent in gnotobiotic newborn piglets with experimentally-induced diarrhea.

Virus shedding patterns of neonatal gnotobiotic piglets infected with the reovirus-like agent of human infantile gastroenteritis were studied. Fecal viral counts were highest before or at the onset of diarrhea. In diarrheic piglets, viral particles were usually observed for only 1-2 days after the onset of diarrhea, and total duration of shedding was 2-6 days. One infected piglet shed virus for 4 days but did not develop diarrhea. The presence of virus at or about the time of illness is consistent with the induction of diarrhea in piglets inoculated with the human reovirus-like agent.