Human rotavirus detection by agglutination of antibody-coated erythrocytes.
We sensitized sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) with antibodies against human rotavirus strain Wa (SRBC-antiWa) and antibodies against calf rotavirus strain NCDV (SRBC-antiNCDV). These were readily agglutinated in the presence of homologous antigens, i.e., human rotavirus and calf rotavirus. By the hemagglutination of SRBC-antiWa and SRBC-antiNCDV (reverse passive hemagglutination [RPHA]), titration of rotavirus in extracts from feces of children suffering from diarrhea (61 specimens) was carried out. We found that the ratio of titers determined with SRBC-antiWa and SRBC-antiNCDV varied remarkably from specimen to specimen. This indicated that the antigenic determinants on human rotavirus in patients feces cross-react with antibodies against NCDV to varying extents. To express the cross-reactivity of human rotavirus with antibodies to NCDV, we propose a Wa/NCDV rotavirus index which can be calculated from the RPHA titer with SRBC-antiWa and SRBC-antiNCDV as follows: Wa/NCDV rotavirus index = (antiWa-RPHA titer of specimen/antiWa-RPHA titer of NCDV)/(antiNCDV-RPHA titer of specimen/antiNCDV-RPHA titer of NCDV).
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000382:microbiology; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral