Subclinical characteristics of the wasting pig syndrome

The plasma concentrations of cortisol and corticosteroid-binding globulin and the adrenal synthesis capacity of cortisol were analysed in 10-week-old healthy and age-matched wasting or unthrifty pigs. Crypt cell multiplication, villus height and intestinal mucosal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were also investigated. Furthermore, the effect of amperozide, a psychotropic drug with specific effects on emotional behaviour, was analysed for its effect on plasma ALP activity and villus height. Although the wasting pigs exhibited an increased cortisol synthesis capacity, there was a decreased plasma concentration of cortisol in these pigs. Furthermore, the plasma cortisol binding capacity was found to be significantly lowered in wasting pigs. There was also a reduced crypt cell proliferation, a reduced villus height and a decreased ALP activity in the ileal mucosa. Treatment with amperozide resulted in a normalisation of plasma ALP activity in unthrifty pigs, indicating a stimulation of body growth. The results indicate that the growth depression of wasting pigs is most probably a chronic stress syndrome caused by the inability of these animals to cope with the events following weaning and mixing.     

Effect of experimentally-induced villus atrophy on adhesion of K88ac-positive Escherichia coli in just-weaned piglets

Three- to four-week-old, just-weaned piglets were infected with transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus and the next day with K88ac+ enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). Histological examination of caudal jejunum and ileum of piglets killed 2-3 days after virus challenge (1-2 days after ETEC infection) revealed severe villus atrophy especially in the jejunum compared with controls (P less than 0.05). Four-5 days after TGE virus infection villus length increased and after 7 days it was near normal. Villi scraped from jejunal and ileal mucosa of the piglets were incubated in vitro with K88ac+ E. coli and the number of bacteria adhering to 250 micron villus brush border was counted. Attachment of bacteria to villi of piglets killed 2-3 days after TGE virus infection was significantly decreased in comparison with adhesion to villi of non-infected piglets or of piglets killed 7 days after the virus infection. Correlation between in vitro adhesion and villus height was 0.6649 (P less than 0.001). The results suggest that the experimentally-induced villus atrophy was attended with a temporarily diminished susceptibility of villus enterocytes to adhesion of K88ac+ E. coli.     

纳米载铜蒙脱石对断奶仔猪生长、肠道菌群及其肠黏膜形态的影响

选用128头健康“杜长大”三元杂交断奶仔猪,随机分为对照组、CuSO4组、纳米蒙脱石(MMT)组和MMT-Cu组,分别饲喂基础日粮(对照组)、基础日粮+78 mg/kg Cu2+(CuSO4.5H2O,相当于MMT-Cu中Cu2+的量)、基础日粮+2.0 g/kgMMT、基础日粮+2.0 g/kgMMT-Cu。结果表明,与对照组相比,MMT-Cu组能显著提高(P<0.05)断奶仔猪的平均日增重、饲料转化效率及小肠绒毛高度、绒毛高度与隐窝深度的比值,显著降低(P<0.05)腹泻率及小肠、结肠内容物中大肠杆菌和沙门氏菌的数量;而MMT组也显著降低(P<0.05)仔猪腹泻率,提高(P<0.05)小肠绒毛高度和绒毛高度与隐窝深度的比值。与MMT组或CuSO4组相比,MMT-Cu组能显著(P<0.05)提高断奶仔猪的平均日增重和饲料转化效率(P<0.05),显著降低了(P<0.05)小肠和结肠内容物中大肠杆菌和沙门氏菌的数量。     

Morphometry of the small intestine in pigs with ileo-rectal anastomosis.

Ileo-rectal anastomosis (IRA), which is frequently used to measure prececal digestibility in pigs, could induce some disturbances of the normal absorptive function. Our aim was to investigate the effects of different IRA surgical procedures on the main histologic characteristics of the small intestine in pigs. The 4 different IRA procedures compared to intact pigs (INT) were the following: either end to end (EE) or end to side (ES) with or without preservation of the ileocecal valve (EEV, EE, ESV, ES respectively). At 147 d after surgery, samples of the wall of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were taken under anesthesia and histometric examinations were performed on HE- and PAS-colored sections to estimate changes mainly of mucosa and muscle layers. The values recorded for villus length, crypt depth, and whole thickness of the mucosa suggested that the EE procedures disturb the small intestine less than the ES models. A new parameter, called epithelial quotient and calculated as [(villus length/crypt depth)/mitotic index], was proposed to improve the comparisons. According to this quotient, EE procedures did not significantly affect the mucosa of the whole small intestine. An increased density of goblet cells was recorded in all operated pigs along the small intestine, but mainly in the ileum after EE-IRA. The lymphatic follicle area was reduced. These findings, which were in agreement with a reduced mitotic index in the ileum of EE-pigs, indicated a decreased effect of noxious factors on the small intestinal mucosa in IRA-pigs, especially after the EE-IRA procedure. Some atrophic or hypertrophic effects on the muscle layers were related to the absence or preservation of the ileo-cecal valve. Finally it was concluded that i) there was no major disturbance after IRA, and ii) the end to end procedure was most beneficial for the structural integrity of the small intestine.     

斜发沸石对苏淮育肥猪血液生化指标和肠道形态的影响

旨在研究基础日粮中添加不同水平的斜发沸石对苏淮育肥猪血液生化指标、肠道形态的影响,为斜发沸石在苏淮猪生产中的应用提供数据参考。选择体重(50±2)kg、健康的苏淮阉公猪40头,随机分为对照组、试验Ⅰ组、试验Ⅱ组、试验Ⅲ组共4个处理组。试验预饲期10 d,所有猪自由采食对照组基础日粮;正试期64 d,对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验Ⅰ至Ⅲ组分别在基础日粮中添加0.5%、1.0%、2.0%的斜发沸石。结果:随斜发沸石水平增加,血清免疫球蛋白G(IgG)、肠道黏膜分泌型免疫球蛋白(sIgA)和肠道黏膜IgG含量升高。随斜发沸石水平增加,血清碱性磷酸酶含量升高;血清甘油三酯含量先升高后降低。随斜发沸石水平增加,平均红细胞血红蛋白浓度含量升高;红细胞分布宽度变异系数降低。随斜发沸石水平增加,十二指肠隐窝深度降低;空肠绒毛高度和空肠段绒毛高度/隐窝深度有升高的趋势。试验表明,在各组日粮消化能和粗蛋白均满足且一致的情况下,添加适宜比例斜发沸石对改善猪的机体血液及肠道免疫功能有积极作用。综合考虑以上检测指标变化规律及斜发沸石添加成本,建议斜发沸石的适宜添加比例为1.0%。     

Villus atrophy in ruminal drinking calves and mucosal restoration after reconditioning

The effect of reconditioning therapy on 7 chronic ruminal drinking veal calves is described. Two calves that were persistent ruminal drinkers were used as controls. In addition to clinical parameters, the morphological features of proximal jejunum biopsies were used to monitor the effect of therapy. Ruminal drinking calves showed various degrees of hyperplastic villus atrophy. When the reticular groove reflex was restored, clinical recovery was observed within 10 days; the length of villi increased as well as the villus/crypt ratio at the end of the reconditioning period. Crypt depth, however, did not alter, and the mitosis index significantly decreased. Villus atrophy in the controls gradually worsened. While the calves gained weight after recovery, retarded growth from the ruminal drinking period was not compensated.     

Lesions of transmissible gastroenteritis virus infection in experimentally inoculated pigs suckling immunized sows

Intestinal lesions of transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus infection in conventionally reared pigs suckling either nonvaccinated, vaccinated, or previously infected sows were studied by scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy, and immunofluorescent microscopy for TGE viral antigen. Pigs were inoculated with virulent TGE virus when they were 5 or 21 days old and were euthanatized shortly after the onset of diarrhea or 96 hours after inoculation if no diarrhea developed. Pigs inoculated when they were either 5 or 21 days old and suckling nonvaccinated sows developed severe lesions, including swelling and necrosis of enterocytes and severe villus atrophy. Pigs inoculated when they were 5 days old and suckling sows vaccinated with attenuated vaccines developed less-severe villus atrophy, and those suckling sows immunized by exposure to nonattenuated TGE virus developed moderate or no villus atrophy. Pigs inoculated when they were 21 days old and suckling sows vaccinated with attenuated vaccines had severe villus atrophy, whereas those suckling sows immunized by exposure to nonattenuated virus had more-moderate villus lesions. Villus atrophy was inhibited to various degrees in pigs suckling immunized sows, depending in part on the antibody titer in the colostrum and milk.     

复合植物精油对脂多糖刺激断奶仔猪肠道形态结构和抗氧化能力的影响

为研究复合植物精油(OCT)对脂多糖(LPS)刺激断奶仔猪肠道结构和抗氧化能力的影响,本试验选取28日龄左右健康的杜×长×大三元杂交仔猪24头,按照体重相近原则随机分为3个处理组:对照组、LPS组和OCT组。对照组和LPS组仔猪饲喂基础日粮,OCT组仔猪饲喂基础日粮+50 mg/kg OCT。试验期21 d。于试验第21天,LPS组和OCT组仔猪注射LPS(100μg/(kg·BW)),对照组仔猪注射等量生理盐水。LPS或生理盐水注射后3 h采血;6 h后,屠宰全部仔猪取肠道样品测定有关指标。结果表明,与对照组相比,LPS组仔猪空肠绒毛高度/隐窝深度有降低趋势(P>0.05),回肠绒毛高度及绒毛高度/隐窝深度显著降低(P<0.05);血浆过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、血浆和空肠超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性显著降低(P<0.05),空肠诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)活性、血浆和回肠H_2O_2含量显著上升(P<0.05)。与LPS组相比,OCT组仔猪空肠绒毛高度、空肠绒毛高度/隐窝深度和回肠绒毛高度显著提高(P<0.05),回肠绒毛高度/隐窝深度有提高趋势(P>0.05);血浆CAT、空肠SOD活性显著提高(P<0.05),血浆和回肠H_2O_2含量显著下降(P<0.05)。以上结果表明,日粮中添加50 mg/kg OCT可以在一定程度上缓解由LPS刺激引起的仔猪氧化应激,改善仔猪肠道结构。     

Bacterial colonization and morphology of the intestine in porcine Escherichia coli enterotoxemia (edema disease)

Twenty-one pigs were divided into three groups. Pigs in one group were inoculated with the intestinal contents which included bacteria from a pig with edema disease. Pigs in another group were inoculated with a culture of Escherichia coli serogroup O 139:K12(B):H1 isolated from the aforementioned contents, and pigs in a third group served as uninoculated controls. The infection was similar following both inocula. Enterotoxemia developed in 11 of the 14 pigs allowed to survive for more than two days. The onset varied from two to seven days after inoculation. There were maximal viable counts of E. coli in the intestine from the second day post-inoculation and thereafter. In frozen and paraffin sections, as well as by scanning electron microscopy, the organisms were seen on the surface of the small intestinal epithelium where they formed either isolated colonies or continuous layers. They colonized the lower small intestine more intensely than the upper section. The intestinal epithelium and the villi of infected pigs were indistinguishable morphologically from the tissues of three uninoculated control pigs. The diarrhea which was observed in controls and inoculated pigs before inoculation and the villus atrophy in controls and inoculated pigs indicated a preexisting infection with at least one other agent.     

Villus atrophy in ruminal drinking calves and mucosal restoration after reconditioning

Summary

The effect of reconditioning therapy on 7 chronic ruminal drinking veal calves is described. Two calves that were persistent ruminal drinkers were used as controls. In addition to clinical parameters, the morphological features of proximal jejunum biopsies were used to monitor the effect of therapy.

Ruminal drinking calves showed various degrees of hyperplastic villus atrophy. When the reticular groove reflex was restored, clinical recovery was observed within 10 days; the length of villi increased as well as the villus/crypt ratio at the end of the reconditioning period. Crypt depth, however, did not alter, and the mitosis index significantly decreased. Villus atrophy in the controls gradually worsened.

While the calves gained weight after recovery, retarded growth from the ruminal drinking period was not compensated.     

日粮中添加凝结芽孢杆菌对仔猪血浆抗氧化指标和肠黏膜生长的影响

试验研究了日粮中添加凝结芽孢杆菌对仔猪血浆抗氧化指标和肠黏膜生长的影响。选取30头体重相近的21日龄健康断奶仔猪随机分为3组(对照组、试验Ⅰ组和试验Ⅱ组),每组10个重复,每个重复1头猪。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ组在基础日粮的基础上分别添加2.0×10~6、2.0×10~7 CFU/g的凝结芽孢杆菌。正试期21 d,试验结束时前腔静脉采血后屠宰取样。结果显示:与对照组相比,试验Ⅰ和Ⅱ组断奶仔猪血浆超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、空肠和回肠绒毛高度与隐窝深度的比值、回肠总蛋白(TP)含量及RNA与DNA的比值均显著提高(P<0.05);试验Ⅱ组仔猪血浆丙二醛(MDA)含量显著降低(P<0.05);试验Ⅰ组空肠TP含量及TP/DNA显著提高(P<0.05)。在本试验条件下,日粮中添加凝结芽孢杆菌可以提高断奶仔猪的抗氧化能力,促进仔猪肠道黏膜细胞的增殖与更新,从而改善了肠道黏膜形态结构。     

地衣芽孢杆菌对脂多糖应激仔猪肠道形态、肠黏膜抗氧化能力和免疫力的影响

本试验旨在研究地衣芽孢杆菌对脂多糖(LPS)应激仔猪肠道形态、肠黏膜抗氧化能力和免疫力的影响。试验选用35日龄、平均体重为(10.0±0.5)kg的苏山猪90头,随机分成3组(对照组、LPS组和BL+LPS组),每组3个重复,每个重复10头仔猪。其中,对照组和LPS组仔猪均饲喂基础饲粮;BL+LPS组仔猪饲喂添加500 mg/kg地衣芽孢杆菌的基础饲粮。预试期3 d,正试期21 d,于正试期第21天从每个重复中选2头仔猪腹腔注射LPS(LPS组和BL+LPS组)或等量的灭菌生理盐水(对照组),注射24 h后屠宰取样。结果显示:1)与对照组相比,LPS应激显著降低了仔猪十二指肠二胺氧化酶(DAO)、空肠一氧化氮合成酶(NOS)活性及空肠一氧化氮(NO)含量(P<0.05),显著提高了血浆中NO含量和NOS活性(P<0.05);显著降低了空肠绒毛高度和绒隐比、回肠绒隐比(P<0.05);显著降低了十二指肠、空肠和回肠谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH⁃Px)、十二指肠和回肠超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性(P<0.05);显著降低了空肠上皮细胞中淋巴细胞、空肠和回肠上皮细胞中杯状细胞数量(P<0.05);显著降低了血清免疫球蛋白G(IgG)含量,提高了回肠黏膜白细胞介素-6(IL⁃6)和白细胞介素-1β(IL⁃1β)含量(P<0.05)。2)与LPS组相比,饲粮添加地衣芽孢杆菌显著提高了LPS应激仔猪回肠DAO和NOS活性(P<0.05);显著提高了空肠黏膜GSH⁃Px活性显著提高(P<0.05),显著降低了十二指肠黏膜丙二醛(MDA)含量(P<0.05);显著提高了血清IgG含量(P<0.05)。由此可见,LPS应激导致仔猪肠黏膜损伤,在饲粮中添加地衣芽孢杆菌可提高LPS应激仔猪的肠黏膜抗氧化能力和免疫力,一定程度上促进肠道形态的修复,减缓LPS应激导致的肠道损伤。     

Effects of age and diet on small intestinal structure and function in gnotobiotic piglets

The effects of age and dietary change on the structure and function of piglet small intestine were investigated in gnotobiotic pigs. The small intestinal mucosa was damaged when gnotobiotic pigs were weaned on to a pelleted meal diet; villus height, crypt cell production rate, and activities of brush border enzymes were reduced. Small intestinal damage was associated with reduced weight gain over a three week period; diarrhoea was not observed. The continuous consumption of meal appeared to perpetuate the intestinal damage for three weeks, although evidence of intestinal repair, as indicated by an increased crypt cell production rate, was present three weeks after weaning. Antibodies to soya antigen were detected in serum after weaning and the intestinal damage could have been caused by antibody-mediated immune reactions to soya proteins. Villi of milk fed gnotobiotic pigs shortened significantly with age.     

Effect of orally administered epidermal growth factor on the jejunal mucosa of weaned pigs

The effect of ingested epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the small intestinal mucosa of conventionally weaned pigs was determined. At 21 days of age, 39 pigs were randomly distributed into suckling and weaned treatment groups that were administered 124 micrograms of EGF, 372 micrograms of EGF, or the dosing compound daily. Fecal water content was determined daily. On postweaning days 0, 3, 6, and 9, representative pigs from each group were euthanatized, and jejunal mucosa samples were collected for determination of villus-to-crypt ratio, total protein content, disaccharidase activities, and microbiological populations. At postweaning day 3, the 372-micrograms dose of EGF significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) increased jejunal lactase and sucrase activities in the weaned pigs. Increased lactase activity was not greater than that of the suckling pig controls, whereas sucrase activity was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) higher than that of the suckling pig controls. Significant changes were not observed in villus-to-crypt ratio, mucosal protein content, or disaccharidase activities on other collection days.     

Pathogenesis of porcine enteric calicivirus-like virus in four-day-old gnotobiotic pigs

Eighteen 4-day-old gnotobiotic pigs were orally inoculated with porcine enteric calicivirus-like virus (C strain). Seven additional gnotobiotic pigs served as noninoculated controls. Mild diarrhea developed in all inoculated pigs by postinoculation day (PID) 3 and persisted for 3 to 7 days. Severe diarrhea developed in 2 inoculated pigs between PID 4 and 5. Twelve inoculated and 7 control pigs were euthanatized over a 7-day period. Small intestinal mucosal smears were stained with a fluorescein-conjugated anti-porcine enteric calicivirus-like virus serum. Immunofluorescence was observed in villous epithelial cells (primarily in the duodenum or jejunum) of all inoculated pigs, except for 1 pig euthanatized at PID 7. Villus length was determined in histologic sections of the small intestinal specimens from control and inoculated pigs. Statistically significant (P less than 0.01) villus atrophy was found in the duodenum and/or jejunum of inoculated pigs at PID 3 to 7. These observations were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, which revealed shortening, blunting, fusion, or absence of villi in the duodenum and jejunum of inoculated pigs at PID 3 to 7. Lesions were not seen in control pigs. Calicivirus-like particles were detected by immune electron microscopy in the large intestinal contents and feces of inoculated pigs from PID 1 to 7.     

Effect of dietary copper on intestinal mucosa enzyme activity, morphology, and turnover rates in weanling pigs.

Twenty-four pigs from four litters weaned at 21 d of age (6.6 kg of BW) were used to evaluate the influence of 250 ppm of dietary Cu on intestinal mucosa glucose-6-phosphatase (GP), alkaline phosphatase (AP), and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity; mucosal morphology; and the turnover rate of the intestinal mucosa throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Pigs were allotted into four pens of six pigs each based on sex, litter, and weight. Pens were then assigned to one of two treatments: 1) corn-soybean meal-whey diet with no antimicrobials (CO), or 2) CO + 250 ppm of Cu. Pigs were fed twice daily an amount approximately equal to ad libitum intake for 14 d. On d 14, pigs were injected i.p. with [3H]thymidine (50 microCi/kg of BW) 10 h after the morning meal. One pig from each pen was euthanatized at 1, 6, 12, 20, 32, and 44 h postinjection, and intestinal tissue was collected from the duodenum, two jejunum sites (upper and lower), ileum, cecum, and colon. The activity of GP and AP in the lower jejunum tended to decrease in pigs fed Cu (P less than .11, P less than .08, respectively). The ATPase activity was not affected by treatment (P greater than .10). Crypt death, villus height, or epithelial cell size (P greater than .10) were not affected by feeding Cu. Migration rate of epithelial cells up the villus was also not affected by treatment (P greater than .10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A scanning and transmission electron microscopic study of rotavirus-induced intestinal lesions in neonatal gnotobiotic dogs

Neonatal gnotobiotic dogs orally inoculated with canine rotavirus had ultrastructural changes limited to the jejunal and ileal regions of the small intestine. Early scanning electron microscopic findings consisted of swollen villus epithelial cells, denuded foci on intestinal villi, and slight to moderate villus atrophy. Later changes were slight villus atrophy with no denuded intestinal villi. Transmission electron microscopic changes in villus epithelial cells from 12 to 48 hours post-inoculation included: rotavirus particles associated with intracytoplasmic vacuoles near the terminal web and apical tubules; viral particles in dilated cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum; and moderate numbers of necrotic cells having no microvilli, swollen mitochondria, membrane-bound lipid-like material in the cytoplasm, clumped chromatin around the periphery of the nucleus, and disruption of the cytoplasmic membrane. In jejunum and ileum at 72 to 154 hours post-inoculation, there were fewer necrotic villus epithelial cells and fewer virus particles. In addition, the ultrastructural morphology of the majority of the villus epithelial cells was similar to crypt epithelium. These studies showed that rotavirus infected the villus epithelial cells with subsequent propagation of the rotavirus and destruction of villus epithelial cells.     

Temporal lectin histochemical characterization of porcine small intestine.

A variety of biotinylated lectins was applied to formalin-fixed intestinal sections from isolator-reared pigs ranging in age from newborn through 12 weeks. Lectin binding to brush borders of villus enterocytes, crypt enterocytes, and dome epithelium, and lectin reactivity within goblet cells and Brunner's glands was semiquantified by microscopy and was used to estimate temporal changes in complex carbohydrates of enteric epithelium. Although variability in binding scores often was observed among pigs of the same age, several general patterns of lectin binding were detected. Dolichos biflorus and Ulex europaeus lectins had increasing binding to brush border membranes as pigs aged. The Dolichos biflorus, however, had decreased binding at the 12-week time point. Neuraminidase-treated Arachis hypogaea and Triticum vulgaris were associated with high mean binding scores at all time points. Canavalia ensiformis bound, with high mean score at all time points, to villus but not to crypt enterocytes. Arachis hypogaea was associated with variable but often high binding scores, regardless of pig age. Succinylated wheat germ agglutinin bound more to crypt than to villus enterocytes. Goblet cells were generally less reactive than were corresponding villi and crypts. Dome epithelium reactivity varied with the lectin used, whereas Brunner's glands reacted with all lectins tested. We conclude that age and regional variations in lectin binding may reflect differences in intestinal function and differentiation. Because complex carbohydrates may act as cell surface receptors for a variety of enteric pathogens, our results indicate that these differences may be partially responsible for age and anatomic differences in susceptibility or resistance to enteric disease.     

L-精氨酸对脂多糖刺激断奶仔猪肠黏膜免疫屏障的影响

本试验旨在研究L-精氨酸(L-Arg)对脂多糖(LPS)刺激仔猪肠黏膜免疫的影响。选用24头21日龄断奶仔猪,随机分为4个处理,即对照组(基础日粮)、LPS组(基础日粮+LPS)、0.5%Arg组(基础日粮添加0.5%Arg+LPS)、1.0%Arg组(基础日粮添加1.0%Arg+LPS)。结果表明:LPS刺激损伤小肠黏膜结构;Arg则有效阻止LPS应激导致的肠道损伤,维持肠黏膜结构的完整性;LPS刺激显著增加仔猪小肠肥大细胞数(P<0.01);1.0%Arg则减少肥大细胞数(P<0.05);LPS刺激降低回肠IgA分泌细胞、CD4+、CD8+阳性细胞数(P<0.05),而0.5%Arg则增加IgA分泌细胞、CD4+、CD8+阳性细胞数(P<0.05)。这表明LPS刺激可导致仔猪小肠黏膜结构受损,免疫屏障功能降低,而日粮添加精氨酸可有效阻止LPS对肠黏膜屏障的损伤,促进及改善肠黏膜结构及免疫屏障功能。     

Comparative virulence of two porcine group-A rotavirus isolates in gnotobiotic pigs

The virulence of 2 porcine group-A rotavirus isolates was compared. Forty hysterotomy-derived 3-day-old gnotobiotic pigs were inoculated orally with 2 ml of intestinal homogenate containing either the Ohio State University (OSU) or the South Dakota State University (SDSU) strain of porcine rotavirus or were inoculated with medium only. Clinical signs of disease, body weight, distribution of viral antigen, fecal excretion of virus, and histologic lesions (observed by light and scanning electron microscopy) were determined. Morphometric measurements of villi and crypts were made. In pigs inoculated with OSU or SDSU strains, diarrhea began at postinoculation hours (PIH) 19 to 48 and PIH 24 to 54, respectively. None of the virus-infected pigs died as a consequence of infection and all had similar clinical signs of disease, body weight changes, and virus-shedding patterns, regardless of the strain of rotavirus with which they were infected. Microscopic findings in the small intestine of virus-infected pigs were similar, except that the SDSU strain caused more severe villus atrophy and villus fusion in the duodenum at PIH 72 and 168 than was associated with the OSU strain. Viral antigen in the small intestine of pigs infected with either virus was observed by use of immunofluorescence at PIH 24 and 72, but was seldom seen at PIH 168.