Intestinal phospholipase B activity in pigs inoculated with transmissible gastroenteritis virus.

Intestinal phospholipase B activity in pigs inoculated with transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus was studied. Phospholipase activity was quantified by measuring the hydrolytic release of free fatty acids in homogenized intestinal tissue incubated with lysophosphatidylcholine. An increase in enzyme activity was observed in the cranial and caudal portions of the ileum and jejunum in pigs killed 3, 6, and 8 days after inoculation with TGE virus. Seemingly, phospholipase B may be part of the host immune response against TGE viral infection.