ABSTRACT
Coronaviruses are of special interest in diarrhea of horses, once they cause disease in foals and in the adult. This study aimed to evaluate the existence of coronavirus, rotavirus, protozoa and bacteria in stool of a 3-day old foal suffering from acute diarrhea. A nested PCRassay for the RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase gene was applied to coronavirus detection and PAGE, sucrose flotation test and classical bacteriology for rotavirus, protozoa and bacteria detection, respectively. An enteric group II coronavirus was found with no concurrent infections. The role of coronavirus in this clinical case is discussed, as well as possible transmission routes.
KEY WORDS
Coronavirus; newborn; diarrhea; foal