Protective immunity after natural rotavirus infection: a community cohort study of newborn children in Guinea-Bissau, west Africa.
To study the natural history of rotavirus infection and to determine the protection it confers against reinfection and diarrhea, 200 newborns in Guinea-Bissau were prospectively followed for up to 2 years. Rotavirus was detected in stool specimens collected weekly. By age 2 years, the incidence of primary rotavirus infection was 74%. In the first 3 months of life, 17% of the infections were diarrhea associated, compared with 60% at 9-11 months; after age 18 months, all infections were asymptomatic. A primary infection conferred 52% (95% confidence interval [CI], 16% to 73%) and 70% (95% CI, 29% to 87%) protection against subsequent rotavirus infection and rotavirus diarrhea, respectively. The protection was 66% (95% CI, 24% to 85%) against reinfection within the same epidemic, compared with 34% (95% CI, -29% to 67%) against reinfection in any subsequent epidemic. The high level of protection against symptomatic rotavirus infection provides an important incentive for development of a rotavirus vaccine.
Projecto de Saude de Bandim and Laboratorio National de Saude Publica, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. thf@ssi.dk
Thea K
TK
Fischer
Palle
P
Valentiner-Branth
Hans
H
Steinsland
Michael
M
Perch
Gina
G
Santos
Peter
P
Aaby
Kåre
K
Mølbak
Halvor
H
Sommerfelt
D015331:Cohort Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006169:Guinea-Bissau / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D012621:Seasons