Asymptomatic rotavirus infections among normal Indian children in Chatsworth, Durban.
During a 27-month survey in Chatsworth, Durban, serum from 1,041 normal Indian children, ranging in age from birth up to 13 years, was tested for the presence of anti-rotavirus antibodies by means of a complement fixation test. It was found that from an initial high positivity rate of 47.7% in the newborn, there was a sharp drop to 23.8% in the 1-2-month age group (P = 0.0009). This low positivity rate was maintained up to the age of 9-11 months, after which it rose to 46.4% in the 12-17-month age group (P = 0.0006). There was a further significant rise between the 2-3-year and 4-5-year age groups, probably reflecting rotavirus infections in nursery school and/or in the home, the latter being nosocomially acquired from younger siblings. Stool samples were obtained from 829 of the above subjects: overall, 16.2% were positive for rotavirus antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; the highest rate (29.5%) of asymptomatic rotavirus infection was in the 12-14-month age group. The data indicate that asymptomatic infection with rotavirus is not uncommon in this community and that older children continue to be exposed to and become infected with rotavirus.
Haffejee
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Department of Paediatrics, University of Natal, Durban.
Windsor
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Moosa
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D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000276:immunology; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral