Seroprevalence of astrovirus types 1 and 6 in London, determined using recombinant virus antigen.
We have developed a microimmunofluorescence test (IF) which uses cells infected with a recombinant baculovirus which expresses the capsid proteins of astrovirus types 1 or 6. The IF test was sensitive and specific and the results for human astrovirus type 1 (HAst-1) were comparable to those obtained by immune electronmicroscopy and radioimmunoassay. Application of the test to a panel of 273 sera collected from patients and staff at two childrens hospitals in London showed that over 50% of the population were infected by HAst-1 between the age of 5 and 12 months rising to 90% by 5 years, whereas human astrovirus type 6 (HAst6) was relatively uncommon (10-30%) in all age groups.
Kriston
S
S
Department of Virology, Hospital for Children, London.
Willcocks
M M
MM
Carter
M J
MJ
Cubitt
W D
WD
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002213:Capsid; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D001257:Mamastrovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013045:Species Specificity; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G