Development of a human rotavirus induced diarrhea model in Chinese mini-pigs

Core tip: Rotavirus (RV) is the leading cause of serious dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. Animal models for RV infection research have provided key insights into the RV infection, its pathogenesis and immunity, and have offered opportunities for design and evaluation of potential vaccines. Our study indicated that human RV (HRV) could effectively replicate in the intestinal villi of the ileum of Chinese mini-pigs and lead to histopathological alterations and diarrhea. This research offers a new animal model for studying the pathological changes and immunogenicity of HRV infection and a useful tool in the design and evaluation of RV vaccines.