Prevalence of Group A Bovine Rotavirus in Neonatal Calves in Punjab, India

Accepted: 01/05/2015 Abstract Group A rotaviruses play an important role in causing gastroenteritis and mortality in buffalo calves. To investigate the epidemical characteristics and prevalence of bovine rotavirus (Group A rotavirus) in Punjab, 120 fecal samples were collected from buffalo calves (n=93) and cow calves (n=27) up to 3 months age group calves exhibiting diarrhoea during the period from July 2012 to March 2013 and screened for the presence of rotavirus using RNA-PAGE. Twenty-three samples were positive by RNA-PAGE having electrophoretic pattern that corresponded to mammalian group A rotaviruses. Male diarrheic calves were found to be more susceptible to rotavirus infection (22.2%) than female diarrheic calves (12.8%). Calves below 20 days of age and buffalo calves were found to be more susceptible to rotavirus infection. High incidence was seen in winter months at low relative humidity. Thus from the above study the overall prevalence of Group A rotavirus in diarrheic calves was found to be 19.16%.