Isolation of a rotavirus from a newborn dog with diarrhea.

A rotavirus was isolated from a newborn dog that died after having clinical signs of diarrhea. Virus particles with rotaviral morphologic features were observed by transmission electron microscopy in the intestinal homogenate collected at necropsy. Cytopathic effects were observed, and rotaviral antigens were detected by indirect immunofluorescence in MA-104 monolayer cultures (a fetal rhesus macaque kidney cell) inoculated with intestinal homogenate. This rotavirus isolate, designated LSU 79C-36, may be a specific canine rotavirus or a rotavirus from another species.