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Display of proceptive behaviors in relation to urinary and fecal progestin levels over the ovarian cycle in female tufted capuchin monkeys.

In many primates species, female sexual attractivity is influenced by behavioral cues as well as by nonbehavioral cues (i.e., visual-morphological or chemical signals). Both kinds of cues are usually related to the ovarian cycle and female hormonal state. Female tufted capuchins (Cebus apella) lack any external morphological change in relation to the ovarian cycle and evidence of scent-marking behavior has never been reported. In addition, tufted capuchin males do not routinely investigate the female's body or urine. Instead, capuchin females are extremely active in sexually soliciting the male(s) and their courtship toward them involves a rich behavioral repertoire. In the present study we defined female tufted capuchin proceptivity and investigated its relationship with female reproductive state. Ovarian hormones were measured in urine and fecal samples from four captive females in order to (a) assess their reliability for monitoring female ovarian function and (b) provide information on the timing of the component cycle phases and in particular the periovulatory phase. Measurements of urinary and fecal progestin metabolites provided the best indicator of ovarian cyclicity and for timing of the periovulatory phase. Through a multivariate analysis of the behavioral data set we distinguished four behaviors (eyebrow raising with vocalization, touching-and-running, nuzzling and head cocking) which showed a marked cyclicity (21.3 days) that matched that of urinary progesterone (21.9 days). Data showed that each period of proceptive behaviors was 2.7 +/- 0.8 days long and the day of a defined luteal phase rise in urinary progesterone levels was markedly shifted toward the end of this period. Furthermore, the ejaculations observed always occurred within proceptive periods. The results clearly indicate that female behavior is a good indicator of the periovulatory phase and can enhance female attractivity.

Animals↗

In vitro activity of 19 antimicrobial agents against enterococci from healthy subjects and hospitalized patients and use of an ace gene probe from Enterococcus faecalis for species identification.

We tested 165 enterococcal isolates, biased toward vancomycin resistant (VR) isolates, collected during recent years from fecal samples of healthy subjects and clinical specimens of hospitalized patients (mostly from United States and some from Europe) for susceptibility to 19 antimicrobials. Nosocomial isolates, whether VR or not, were more often highly resistant to aminoglycosides and clindamycin than fecal isolates from healthy community volunteers and more often resistant to erythromycin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim, levofloxacin and, for E. faecium, ampicillin (93 vs. 0%). Resistance rates were similar between nosocomial and community-fecal isolates for minocycline, rifampin and quinupristin-dalfopristin (Q-D). None of the 165 enterococci tested hybridized with aph(2'')-Ic and aph(2'')-Id probes for recently described gentamicin resistance genes and 37 of the 39 isolates with high level resistance (HLR) to gentamicin hybridized with an intragenic aac(6')-aph(2'') probe. Of the two newer drugs tested, daptomycin MIC90s were 0.25 microg/mL for E. faecalis and 1 microg/mL for E. faecium, regardless of their vancomycin resistance level or source. For Q-D, none of 28 E. faecium from community based healthy subjects in the USA and 7 of 66 E. faecium from hospitalized patients in the United States were resistant. Among these 7 Q-Dr United States isolates and 7 Q-Dr isolates from Europe (MICs of Q-D of 4-8 microg/mL), none hybridized with vat(D) (formerly satA) and vat(E) (formerly satG) DNA probes, indicating the involvement of other mechanism/s of resistance in these isolates. We also demonstrated that an intragenic probe of the gene ace from E. faecalis showed specific hybridizations to all E. faecalis isolates, suggesting the usefulness of this gene for identification of this species.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

Effect of pancreatic enzymes on zinc absorption in cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: The trace metal zinc has a wide range of important physiologic roles. Indirect evidence suggests that fat malabsorption is associated with malabsorption of zinc. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pancreatic enzyme replacement on zinc absorption in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis. METHODS: Subjects were four boys and four girls ranging in age from 7 to 17 years of age. All were pancreatic insufficient. Stable isotope labels, 70Zn and 67Zn, were administered orally in divided doses on consecutive days with meals. Meals were identical on the first 2 study days. Subjects were randomized to have pancreatic enzyme replacement withheld on the first or second day. All fecal samples were collected quantitatively for 10 days after label administration and were analyzed individually for total zinc and isotopic enrichment using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, respectively. Fractional absorption of zinc was calculated from cumulative fecal excretion of unabsorbed label. RESULTS: Fractional absorption while receiving enzymes was 0.50 +/- 0.29 versus 0.38 +/- 0.24 while not taking enzymes (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that fractional absorption of zinc is impaired by pancreatic insufficiency in patients with cystic fibrosis, and is improved by exocrine pancreatic enzyme replacement.

Adolescent↗

Prevalence of enterotoxigenic motile aeromonads in children, fish, milk and ice-cream and their public health significance.

Motile aeromonads, which have been implicated as causative agents of human gastroenteritis, meningitis. endocarditis and osteomyelitis, were isolated from fish, pasteurized and flavored milk and ice creams. Forty-five isolates of Aeromonas from diarrheic children (100) and 285 food samples comprising of fish (100), milk (85) and ice creams (100) were identified as A. hydrophila (21), A. sobria (16) and A. caviae (8). Five of these 45 isolates of Aeromonoas (3 A. sobria, 2 A. hydrophila) were from fecal samples of diarrheic children under five years of age. Twenty-six of these 45 isolates were found to be enterotoxin producing by ligated rabbit ileum loop technique. Isolation of enterotoxigenic motile aeromonads from food as well as diarrheic children have great public health significance which will be further discussed.

Aeromonas hydrophila↗

Estrogen excretion patterns and plasma levels in vegetarian and omnivorous women.

We studied 10 vegetarian and 10 nonvegetarian premenopausal women on four occasions approximately four months apart. During each study period, the participants kept three-day dietary records, and estrogens were measured in plasma, urinary, and fecal samples. Vegetarians consumed less total fat than omnivores did (30 per cent of total calories, as compared with 40 per cent) and more dietary fiber (28 g per day, as compared with 12 g). There was a positive correlation between fecal weight and fecal excretion of estrogens in both groups (P less than 0.001), with vegetarians having higher fecal weight and increased fecal excretion of estrogens. Urinary excretion of estriol was lower in vegetarians (P less than 0.05), and their plasma levels of estrone and estradiol were negatively correlated with fecal excretion of estrogen (P = 0.005). Among the vegetarians the beta-glucuronidase activity of fecal bacteria was significantly reduced (P = 0.05). We conclude that vegetarian women have an increased fecal output, which leads to increased fecal excretion of estrogen and a decreased plasma concentration of estrogen.

Adult↗

Fecal bacterial diversity in a wild gorilla.

We describe the bacterial diversity in fecal samples of a wild gorilla by use of a 16S rRNA gene clone library and terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). Clones were classified as Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, Actinobacteria, Lentisphaerae, Bacteroidetes, Spirochetes, and Planctomycetes. Our data suggest that fecal populations did not change temporally, as determined by T-RFLP.

Animals↗

Effects of ionophore feeding and anthelmintic administration on age and weight at puberty in spring-born beef heifers.

Two hundred eighty-eight heifer calves in two 1-yr replications were used to test the hypothesis that ionophore (ION) feeding, anthelmintic (ANT) administration, or the combination (COMB) would cause heifers to express pubertal estrus at a younger age than control (CONT) heifers. Heifers were assigned randomly within three weight blocks in a randomized complete block design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. A high-fiber diet was fed for 172 d during yr 1 (Y1) and 199 d during yr 2 (Y2). Monensin sodium (200mg.animal-1.d-1) was fed to ION and COMB treatments and ivermectin (200 micrograms/kg of BW) was given to ANT and COMB groups at weaning and 84 d later. Rate of gain was monitored every 21 d and diet intake was adjusted to obtain equal rates of gain across treatments. Fecal samples were collected from one-third of the heifers in each group and analyzed for internal parasite egg counts every 21 d. Serum progesterone samples taken twice weekly were used to estimate onset of puberty. There was no treatment x year interaction in any parameter measured and the data were pooled across both years. Total weight gain was similar (P > .10) for all treatments. Fecal egg output decreased (P < .01) after initial application of anthelmintic. The ANT, ION, and COMB heifers had greater (P < .05) gain:feed ratios than did CONT (.132, .142, and .148 vs .125 kg for ANT, ION, COMB, and CONT, respectively). Age and weight at puberty were different (P < .05) for ION (425 d, 351.8 kg), COMB (425 d, 349.5 kg), and ANT (424 d, 348.8 kg) compared with CONT (433 d, 362.5 kg). There was no difference (P > .10) in age and weight at puberty between COMB, ION, or ANT heifers. During Y1, but not Y2, there were a greater (P < .05) number of COMB, ION, and ANT heifers pubertal before the breeding season. Additionally, there was a tendency (P = .12) for higher first-service conception in the COMB, ION, and ANT heifers than in the CONT heifers. Final pregnancy rates among treatments were similar (P > .10).

Aging↗

Genetic variation of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis infection in US Holsteins.

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic variability of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis infection in US Holsteins. Blood and fecal samples were collected primarily from daughters of 12 bulls in their second or third lactation. Routine disease testing of the sires documented that they were not infected. Herds without a "suspect" or positive ELISA (sample/positive ratio > or = 0.10) or positive fecal culture test were deleted from the data set. The remaining 4,603 cows from 238 herds and 46 sires were used to estimate heritability of M. paratuberculosis infection. Heritability was estimated with 3 Johne's disease diagnostic tests: 1) fecal culture alone, 2) serum antibody ELISA alone, and 3) both tests (combined) with a positive animal defined as all animals with either a positive fecal culture or ELISA test. Four statistical models were used to estimate heritability: 1) linear (ELISA), 2) threshold (fecal culture and combined), 3) ordered threshold (ELISA), and 4) bivariate linear-threshold (ELISA-fecal culture). A sire model and Bayesian approach using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods were used in each case. Heritability of infection based on the fecal culture test was 0.153 [posterior standard deviation (PSD) = 0.115]. Heritability with the ELISA was 0.159 (PSD = 0.090) with a linear model and 0.091 (PSD = 0.053) with an ordered threshold model. Heritability of the combined tests was 0.102 (PSD = 0.066). Heritability estimates of fecal culture and ELISA with the bivariate model varied slightly from estimates obtained with the univariate models (0.125 and 0.183, respectively), with a corresponding increase in precision (PSD = 0.096 and 0.082, respectively). This study demonstrates that exploitable genetic variation exists in dairy cattle for M. paratuberculosis infection susceptibility.

Animals↗

Fecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella, and Campylobacter in Swiss cattle at slaughter.

Fecal samples from 2,930 slaughtered healthy cattle were examined with the following goals: (i) to monitor the shedding of Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella, and Campylobacter in cattle; and (ii) to further characterize the isolated strains. The percentage of the 2,930 samples that tested positive for E. coli O157 by PCR was 1.6%. Thirty-eight strains from different animals that agglutinated with Wellcolex E. coli O157 were isolated. Of the six sorbitol-negative strains, five tested positive for stx2 genes (two times for stx2c and three times for stx2), and one strain tested positive for stx1 and stx2c genes. All sorbitol-negative strains belonged to the serotypes O157:H7- and O157:H7 and harbored the eae type gamma 1 and ehxA genes. The 32 sorbitol-positive strains tested negative for stx genes and belonged to the serotypes O157:H2, O157:H7, O157:H8, O157:H12, O157:H19, O157:H25, O157:H27, O157:H38, O157:H43, O157:H45, and O157:H-. All O157:H45 strains harbored the eae subtype alpha 1 and therefore seem to be atypical enteropathogenic E. coli strains. Whereas none of 1,000 examined samples was positive for Salmonella, 95 of 935 (10.2%) samples were positive for Campylobacter, and all strains were identified as C. jejuni. Sixteen Campylobacter strains were resistant to tetracycline, five were resistant to nalidixic acid/ciprofloxacin, four were resistant to streptomycin, and one was resistant to nalidixic acid/ciprofloxacin and streptomycin. Fecal shedding of zoonotic pathogens in slaughter animals is strongly correlated with the hazard of carcass contamination. Therefore, the maintenance of slaughter hygiene is of crucial importance.

Animals↗

Serodiagnosis of bovine paratuberculosis by use of a dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

A dot ELISA was developed for detection of antibodies to Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. The assay was evaluated by testing sera from cattle that were determined, by bacteriologic culturing of feces, to be infected with M paratuberculosis and were suspected of having clinical disease. Further evaluation involved testing sera from cattle in which M paratuberculosis had not been isolated from feces on several attempts. Results of the dot ELISA were positive for sera from 86 of 101 infected cattle, and results were negative for sera from 64 of 64 noninfected cattle. Results of conventional ELISA and agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) tests were positive for 79 of 99 and for 51 of 101 infected cattle, respectively. The dot ELISA also was evaluated by comparing results of testing 708 sera with results of bacteriologic culturing of matched fecal samples from 262 cattle in 3 central Ohio dairy herds known to include cattle infected with M paratuberculosis. Results of the dot ELISA were positive for 25 of 39 sera from cattle with positive results on culturing of concurrently obtained fecal specimens. The dot ELISA results were negative for 661 of 669 sera from cattle with negative results to culturing of concurrently obtained fecal specimens. The 39 sera from cattle with positive results on bacteriologic culturing of matched fecal specimens had positive results for ELISA and the AGID test 25 and 14 times, respectively. The 669 sera from cattle with concurrently negative results on bacteriologic culturing of feces had negative results to ELISA and the AGID test 559 and 668 times, respectively.

Animals↗

Detection of astrovirus in pediatric stool samples by immunoassay and RNA probe.

Two new astrovirus assays, a rapid biotin-avidin enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and RNA probe hybridization, were developed and compared with an established astrovirus assay, an indirect EIA, and immune electron microscopy. Sensitivity and specificity were evaluated by using a screening panel of 22 astrovirus-positive and 305 astrovirus-negative fecal specimens. The biotin-avidin assay was equivalent in performance to the reference indirect assay, and both could detect about 10 ng of viral protein. Although the probe was more sensitive than either EIA and could detect higher dilutions of virus in tissue culture and stool specimens, it did not detect more astrovirus-positive fecal specimens. Of the 22 astrovirus-positive specimens detected by the EIAs, 20 were confirmed by immune electron microscopy with hyperimmune rabbit antiserum. To determine the usefulness of EIAs for large epidemiologic studies, EIAs were used to screen 1,289 stool specimens from three studies of children with and without diarrhea. Astrovirus was detected in 3.5% of specimens from children with diarrhea and 1.9% of specimens from those without diarrhea. Our results indicate that the biotin-avidin EIA is an efficient, sensitive, and specific method for routinely screening large numbers of fecal samples and that its application in epidemiologic studies may yield higher rates of astrovirus infection than have been found previously by other methods.

Avidin↗

Effects of seasonal climatic conditions on the diagnosis of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in dairy cattle.

Validity of Johne's disease programs and control protocols that rely on established cut points [e.g., specified sample-to-positive (S/P) ratios] for ELISA serological tests depends on interpreted results that are not susceptible to variable test accuracy. It was hypothesized that seasonal variability exists in serological response to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infection. Further, a reciprocal response may occur, resulting in greater risk of fecal shedding in subclinically infected animals. A testing regimen was invoked that included multiple testing of individual adult cows during the 4 seasons. Serum was collected on a cyclic, monthly basis from 3 randomly selected cohorts of dairy cows, and fecal samples were collected from the 20% of cows with the greatest ELISA test S/P ratios. Staggered, quarterly sampling was continued for 1 yr, and at the conclusion, serum was analyzed en masse. The ELISA outcome values (i.e., S/P ratio) were treated both as categorical and continuous variables. The potential lagged effects of temperature-related seasonality on S/P ratio, as well as the potential for a change in test result caused by temperature were assessed. Results for fecal culture were analyzed on a categorical scale and compared with the ELISA results to explore the possibility of reciprocal fecal shedding. No significant seasonal effects on either S/P ratios or the proportion of cows seropositive to MAP were observed. Furthermore, no evidence was found linking temperature-related seasonality to a reciprocal increase in the risk of fecal culture positivity for MAP.

Animals↗

In vitro fermentation of high-amylose cornstarch by a mixed population of colonic bacteria.

BACKGROUND: Malabsorbed starch is probably the most important substrate for bacterial fermentation in the human large intestine. Fermentability of starch may depend on the composition of the colonic flora and its adaptation to the substrate supply. METHODS: Ten healthy volunteers were fed a controlled diet containing either 7.0 to 8.3 or 50.7 to 59.7 g/d of resistant starch (Hylon VII) for 4 weeks. At the end of each diet period, fecal starch concentrations were measured. Fecal samples were incubated in 48-hour batch cultures containing 10 g/L Hylon VII or digestible Lintner's starch. Bacterial breakdown of starch and short-chain fatty acid concentrations were measured at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours. RESULTS: Fecal starch concentrations were higher during the Hylon VII period (35.7 +/- 16 vs 8.9 +/- 3.3 mg/g). Starch was fermented rapidly and completely in vitro in all but two subjects. Fermentability of resistant starch was comparable to that of digestible starch. No differences were found between the dietary periods. Fermentation of resistant starch produced higher rates of n-butyrate. Two subjects had substantially higher fecal starch concentrations. In vitro starch breakdown in these subjects was slow and incomplete. CONCLUSIONS: Fermentation of resistant starch by the colonic microflora was rapid and complete in 8 of 10 subjects. No adaptation of the fermentation capacity was observed after 4 weeks of dietary resistant starch supplementation. Fermentation of resistant starch increased the proportion of n-butyrate in vitro. In two subjects, fecal starch concentrations were substantially higher than in the other subjects and in vitro starch fermentation was slow and incomplete.

Adult↗

Metabolism and excretion of trovafloxacin, a new quinolone antibiotic, in Sprague-Dawley rats and beagle dogs. Effect of bile duct cannulation on excretion pathways.

The excretion and metabolism of trovafloxacin was investigated after administration of a single oral dose of [14C]trovafloxacin to Sprague-Dawley rats and beagle dogs. The bile was the major route of excretion in rats (59% of the dose). Trovafloxacin was extensively metabolized in this species, and only 3% of the dose was excreted unchanged. Glucuronidation and acetylation were the major metabolic pathways involved in the elimination, and no oxidative metabolites were detected in rats. In dogs, 97.6 and 2.7% of the dose was recovered in feces and urine, respectively, in 72 hr. However, excretion studies in bile duct-cannulated dogs revealed that 28.2% of the radioactivity was recovered in bile, whereas 45.6% was in urine. This suggested that bile duct cannulation had affected the disposition of trovafloxacin. Analysis of bile and urine of bile duct-cannulated dogs by LC/MS/MS indicated that glucuronidation was the major metabolic pathway in dogs as well. Two novel metabolites were identified in the bile of this species. One was confirmed as a pyrroline analog of trovafloxacin (M7), and the second was tentatively identified as the hydroxycarboxylic acid analog (M6). The differences in metabolism of trovafloxacin in the bile duct-cannulated and noncannulated dogs were investigated by comparison of the metabolite profiles in urine and feces of these animals. Although the metabolites in urine were similar, the extracts of fecal samples obtained from noncannulated animals revealed the presence of N-acetyltrovafloxacin (M3). Incubation of trovafloxacin with cecal contents of dogs under anaerobic conditions suggested the involvement of intestinal microflora in the formation of this metabolite. Metabolite M3 was absent from fecal extracts of bile duct-cannulated dogs, suggesting that surgery had affected the metabolism of trovafloxacin by gut microflora.

Animals↗

Rapid and sensitive detection of noroviruses by using TaqMan-based one-step reverse transcription-PCR assays and application to naturally contaminated shellfish samples.

Noroviruses (NoV), which are members of the family Caliciviridae, are the most important cause of outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis worldwide and are commonly found in shellfish grown in polluted waters. In the present study, we developed broadly reactive one-step TaqMan reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assays for the detection of genogroup I (GI) and GII NoV in fecal samples, as well as shellfish samples. The specificity and sensitivity of all steps of the assays were systematically evaluated, and in the final format, the monoplex assays were validated by using RNA extracted from a panel of 84 stool specimens, which included NoV strains representing 19 different genotypes (7 GI, 11 GII, and 1 GIV strains). The assays were further validated with 38 shellfish cDNA extracts previously tested by nested PCR. Comparison with a recently described real-time assay showed that our assay had significantly higher sensitivity and was at least as sensitive as the nested PCR. For stool specimens, a one-step duplex TaqMan RT-PCR assay performed as well as individual genogroup-specific monoplex assays. All other enteric viruses examined were negative, and no cross-reaction between genogroups was observed. These TaqMan RT-PCR assays provide rapid (less than 90 min), sensitive, and reliable detection of NoV and should prove to be useful for routine monitoring of both clinical and shellfish samples.

Animals↗

Seasonal changes in fecal testosterone concentrations and their relationship to the reproductive behavior, antler cycle and grouping patterns in free-ranging male Pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus bezoarticus).

The purpose of this study was to validate noninvasive endocrine monitoring techniques for Pampas deer and to evaluate seasonal changes in testicular steroidogenic activity and their correlation to reproductive behavior, antler cycle and group size. Thus, fecal samples, behavioral data and observations of antler status were collected at monthly intervals during 1 year from free-ranging Pampas deer stags (three radio-collared individuals and 15 random individuals) living in Emas National Park, Brazil (18 degrees S latitude). Fecal steroids were extracted using 80% methanol and steroid concentrations were quantified by a commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Fecal testosterone concentrations peaked in December-January (summer), March (early autumn) and in August-September (winter-spring), with minimal values from April-July. Reproductive behavior had two peaks, the first in December-January, characterized by predominately anogenital sniffing, flehmen, urine sniffing, chasing and mounting behavior, and the second peak in July-September (behavior primarily related to gland marking). There were significant correlations between fecal testosterone and reproductive behavior (r=0.490), and between fecal testosterone and antler phases (r=0.239). Antler casting and regrowth occurred under low testosterone concentrations, whereas velvet shedding was associated with high concentrations of testosterone. We inferred that Pampas deer stags exhibited a seasonal cycle that modulated sexual behavior and the antler cycle, and we concluded that fecal steroid analysis was a practical and reliable non-invasive method for the evaluation of the endocrine status of free-ranging Pampas deer.

Animals↗

Detection of bovine and porcine adenoviruses for tracing the source of fecal contamination.

In this study, a molecular procedure for the detection of adenoviruses of animal origin was developed to evaluate the level of excretion of these viruses by swine and cattle and to design a test to facilitate the tracing of specific sources of environmental viral contamination. Two sets of oligonucleotides were designed, one to detect porcine adenoviruses and the other to detect bovine and ovine adenoviruses. The specificity of the assays was assessed in 31 fecal samples and 12 sewage samples that were collected monthly during a 1-year period. The data also provided information on the environmental prevalence of animal adenoviruses. Porcine adenoviruses were detected in 17 of 24 (70%) pools of swine samples studied, with most isolates being closely related to serotype 3. Bovine adenoviruses were present in 6 of 8 (75%) pools studied, with strains belonging to the genera Mastadenovirus and Atadenovirus and being similar to bovine adenoviruses of types 2, 4, and 7. These sets of primers produced negative results in nested PCR assays when human adenovirus controls and urban-sewage samples were tested. Likewise, the sets of primers previously designed for detection of human adenovirus also produced negative results with animal adenoviruses. These results indicate the importance of further studies to evaluate the usefulness of these tests to trace the source of fecal contamination in water and food and for environmental studies.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Efficiency of human rotavirus propagation in cell culture.

This study was designed to find methods to reproducibly propagate human rotaviruses from fecal specimens and to determine the relationship between particle numbers and infectivity. Growth of virus was initially compared in primary and continuous lines of monkey kidney cells. Primary cells (African green and cynomolgus monkey kidney) supported virus growth directly from fecal specimens much more efficiently than did continuous lines of African green (CV-1) or rhesus (MA104) monkey kidney cells. Rotaviruses were grown in primary cells from 14 of 14 fecal specimens of different individuals collected over a 3-year period. Although rotaviruses in fecal samples could not always be grown in the continuous cell lines, two passages in primary cells appeared to fully adapt the viruses for propagation in the continuous cell line tested (MA104). The efficiency of rotavirus growth was quantified with five of the fecal isolates. It was calculated that, on the average, 1 out of every 46,000 particles in fecal specimens infected monkey kidney cells. After three passages in primary cells, an average of 1 out of every 6,600 progeny virus particles appeared to be infectious. Thus, rotaviruses in fecal specimens were consistently grown in primary cells, and passage in these cells both increased virus infectivity and adapted the viruses for growth in continuous cell lines.

Animals↗