title: The 30- to 54-nm rotavirus-like particles in gastroenteritis: incidence and antigenic relationship to rotavirus.
abstract: The 30- to 54-nm rotavirus-like particles were observed in the stool specimens of 17 children with gastroenteritis. These small rotavirus-like particles were shown to be antigenically related to the commonly described 68-nm rotavirus using the techniques of immune electron microscopy and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Four specimens containing the small rotavirus-like particles were shown to contain an antigen of a common human rotavirus serotype (type 2). The findings of small rotavirus-like particles of different diameters sharing a common antigen with rotavirus type 2 cautions against the naming of new candidate viruses based on morphology alone. In addition, the shedding of pure populations of single-shelled rotaviruses, herein described, could be an unusual phenomenon which may occur only sporadically. The relationship of the smaller rotavirus-like particles to rotavirus morphogenesis is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012087:Reoviridae / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral