Ed Lipinski wrote:
>And one last parting shot: Mr. Janke, I believe it was, expressed concern
>that ECE is being referred to as a virus, and which is yet, to my knowledge
>and to his, absolutely false. Lately, a veterniarian, unidentified as yet,
>referred to it as a "corona" or a "crown-like virus, which he has isolated
>and identified. Absolutely amazing indeed, in spite of the fact that it's
>not yet proven to be a virus, does this vet now blatantly ascribe a
>physical shape, a "crown" shape, to the virus particle itself?
 
The following is from memory, but even if not perfectly accurate, you
should get the general idea.  When I was speaking with one of the local
vets on ECE, he said that corona viruses as a group, damage a particular
later of the GI tract, other viruses damage other layers.  So a sample of
intestinal tissue from an animal who suffered an infection of a corona
virus when viewed microscopically would show damage to that layer.  It
would not identify *which* corona virus it is, but it's a strong indication
that the virus is one of the corona viruses.  If you read the FAQ on ECE
you will see the following notation:
 
"The cause is yet unknown, but Dr. Williams, who has a great deal of
experience looking microscopically at tissues affected by this problem,
feels strongly that it may be a corona or rota virus."
 
As far as I know it has not been isolated and identified-the best guess
based on the symptoms and damage that is done is that is it's a virus.
 
-Ilena Ayala
[Posted in FML issue 2652]