Abstract
An epizootic outbreak of diarrhea, milk drop and inappetence in lactating cows occurred on a dairy farm in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. Rotavirus particles were observed in fecal samples under electron microscopy. On polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the dsRNA migration pattern from fecal samples was characteristic of bovine group B rotavirus (GBR). Fecal samples were positive for GBR by reverstranscriptase PCR. No diarrheal pathogens in fecal samples were found on bacteriological or parasitological testing. Antibody testing for GBR by ELISA showed seroconversion in most lactating cows on the farm concerned. We subsequently investigated 130 serum samples from 26 herds to determine the prevalence of infection with GBR in Fukui Prefecture. Results were positive in 21 of 26 herds (81%) and in 65 of 130 samples (50%). These results suggest that there is some doubt that occurrences of diarrhea, milk drop and inappetence in lactating cows are related toinfection with bovine GBR or that GBR infection is prevalent in Fukui Prefecture.
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