Molecular epidemiology of bovine rotaviruses. Characterization of rotaviruses isolated from diarrhoeic calves by genome profile analysis.

Fifteen bovine rotavirus group A strains were isolated in several Italian regions over the period 1981-1989 from calves in ten neonatal diarrhoea outbreaks. The electrophoretical analysis of the genoma showed genomic variations and five different profiles were observed, including one with thirteen dsRNA segments. The finding of extra RNA fragments, with respect to the regular eleven genome segments, suggests the possibility of simultaneous or sequential infection by more than one electropherotype or a modification in the length of RNA segments during infection.