Infantile enteritis viruses: morphogenesis and morphology.

A new virus was found to be associated with acute gastroenteritis in children. In duodenal biopsies, it was observed infecting only intestinal epithelial cells, and it resembled orbiviruses in its morphogenesis. For diagnsotic purposes the virus was readily demonstrated by negative staining of fecal extracts. Two forms of particles were seen: double-sheeled particles (70 to 75 nm in diameter) resembling those of reovirus with a sharper outline, and single-shelled particles (60 nm in diameter) with obvious capsomer structure and resembling those of orbiviruses. The morphological resemblance of this human virus to the viruses of "Nebraska" calf scours and epizootic diarrhoea of infant mice is emphasized.