Symptoms and Prevention and Treatment Methods of Porcine Rotavirus Infection

Epidemiological characteristics

Infected humans, livestock, and latently infected carriers are all sources of infection. The virus exists in the intestinal tract and is shed into the external environment with feces, infecting susceptible humans and livestock via the digestive tract. The disease spreads rapidly and occurs mostly in cold seasons. Piglets and young pigs are frequently affected. Adult pigs are generally latently infected.

Pathological changes

Affected piglets show lethargy, poor appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea, with feces that are yellow or gray, watery or pasty. The lesions are mainly confined to the digestive tract (especially the jejunum and ileum), with thinning of the intestinal wall and shortening of the small intestinal villi.

Prevention and treatment measures

At present, there is no specific therapeutic drug for this disease, and prevention mainly relies on strengthening feeding management and hygiene measures. A vaccine is still in the research and development stage. Affected pigs should be isolated in clean, dry, and warm pig houses, with intensive care, and stress factors should be minimized as much as possible. Affected pigs can be given oral glucose saline or compound glucose solution, with pigs receiving 30 to 40 milliliters per kilogram of body weight orally, twice a day.

Diagnostic methods

A preliminary diagnosis can be made based on symptoms and lesions, but a confirmed diagnosis requires examination of the small intestine by electron microscopy, fluorescent antibody testing, and other methods.