Influence of humidity on rotavirus prevalence among Nigerian infants and young children with gastroenteritis.
Rotaviruses were detected by counterimmunoelectro-osmophoresis in the feces of 16 (13.8%) of 116 infants and young children with gastroenteritis during a 5-month period (September 1979 through January 1980) in Ife, Nigeria. The rate of rotavirus detection varied inversely with relative humidity and was highest in December (38.5% positive) when the humidity was lower. There was not such a distinct relationship with temperature or vapor pressure; and although the rate of rotavirus detection was higher in the drier months (November to January; 19.3% positive) than in the rainy season months (September and October; 8.5% positive), the average humidity was lower in the drier months than in the rainy months. Low relative humidity (49 to 78%) is apparently the most important environmental factor for rotavirus survival and spread in this area.
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007223:Infant; D009549:Nigeria; D012088:Reoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012621:Seasons