title: An epidemiological investigation of Norwalk virus infection in South Africa.
abstract: A study was carried out to determine the incidence and seroprevalence of Norwalk virus (NV) in the Pretoria area, South Africa, using a recombinant NV (rNV) immunoassay for the detection of serum IgG antibodies. Maternal antibody was detectable in infants' sera up to approximately 6 months of age. Infection with NV was detected serologically in the second year of life and the seroprevalence of NV IgG rose from 37.1% at 7-11 months of age to 62.1% by the age of 40 years. No significant differences in seroprevalence of NV IgG antibody was evident between subjects of European or African ethnic origin, where overall seroprevalence rates were 56.4% and 53.9% respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Grabow
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Cubitt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009663:Norwalk virus / Q000276:immunology; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G