title: Two sequential outbreaks of rotavirus gastroenteritis: evidence for symptomatic and asymptomatic reinfections.
abstract: In two sequential outbreaks of rotavirus gastroenteritis that occurred in a kibbutz in southern Israel (the Negev), 32 persons (9% of the population) were ill in the first and 45 (13% of the population) in the second. Excretion of virus, changes in titers of rotavirus-specific serum IgG, or both implicated rotavirus in 72% of the illnesses in outbreak 1 and in 56% of the illnesses in outbreak 2. In both outbreaks the age-specific morbidity rate decreased with increasing age. Half (six of 12) of the children six to 27 months of age who were ill with rotavirus in outbreak 1 were ill with rotavirus again in outbreak 2, whereas two were asymptomatically infected; older children who were ill in outbreak 1 were not ill in outbreak 2. Serotype determination by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using monoclonal antibodies to VP7 implicated a serotype 3 virus in outbreak 1 and a serotype 1 virus in outbreak 2.
authors.affiliation: Virology Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galil
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sarov
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Margalith
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Katzir
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Midthun
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Urasawa
authors.forename: A Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Kapikian
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Edelman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007557:Israel; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012008:Recurrence; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012424:Rural Population; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral