Morphologic studies of virus infection of the intestinal tract--virus replication and cytopathology in cell cultures and enterocytes in piglets. 1. Ultrastructure of intestinal epithelium without viral infiltration and in rotavirus infection
Granzow, H.; Schirrmeier, H.; Beyer, J.; Lange, E.
Archiv für Experimentelle Veterinarmedizin 42(4): 558-570
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9055 PMID: 2847679 Document Number: 315868
After a brief description of the ultrastructure of uninfected intestinal epithelium of unweaned piglets, replication phases of calf diarrhoea rotavirus in calf kidney cell cultures and of porcine rotavirus in enterocytes of infected piglets are described from immunofluorescence and electron microscopic studies. Identical characteristics were exhibited by replication of rotaviruses in calf kidney monolayers and in enterocytes. Intramitochondrial budding processes occurred in calf kidney cells as an aberrant form of replication. An increase of intralysosomal virions towards the end of replication is discussed as a nonspecific defence mechanism of the cell. Virus-specific changes in infected cells included occurrence of viroplasmic regions and degranulation or dilatation of rough endoplasmic reticulum. Alterations of microvilli, brightening of cytoplasm, mitochondrial hypertrophy, and disorganization of terminal spin also occurred in the process of normal cell aging. The fluorescence pattern of infected cells changes from fine specks with scattered granules to coarse granulation, in association with the accumulation of viral antigen.