title: Association of human rotavirus infection and intestinal rotavirus-specific immunoglobulin A in children with diarrhoea.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the role of intestinal specific rotavirus IgA antibody in protection against diarrhoea due to rotavirus infection. Stool from children aged below 5 years with diarrhoea who reported to the Paediatric Observation Ward, Kenyatta National Hospital were examined for micro-organisms and IgA antibody. Specific rotavirus IgA antibody and antigen were determined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique. Out of 153 stool specimens, 22% (34/153) were positive for rotavirus antigen and 15% (23/153) had IgA specific antibody to rotavirus. Children with specific IgA to rotavirus had no rotavirus except in two cases (p < 0.05). There was no difference in levels of specific IgA antibody between normal and malnourished children (p = 0.4). It is probable that intestinal specific IgA to rotavirus protects children against rotavirus diarrhoea.
authors.affiliation: National Public Health Laboratory Service, Ministry of Health, Nairobi.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kakai
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Wamola
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bwayo
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000821:virology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D007223:Infant; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007070:Immunoglobulin A