Seroepidemiology of group A rotavirus in suburban São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

SUMMARYAge-specific patterns of rotavirus infection were investigated using a randomly selected and representative sample of sera from a suburban community of Sa4 o Paulo, Brazil screened for class-specific antibodies to group A rotavirus. Age-serology of anti-rotavirus IgG showed primary infection predominant in young infants with a median age of around 18 months consistent with IgM serology suggesting highest rates of recent infection between ages 4 and 48 months. Anti-rotavirus serum IgA prevalence increased gradually with age. Paired samples from infants, collected 1 month apart, indicated high exposure rates with seroconversion occurring in several infants during the reported low transmission season. Between 5 and 10 % of adults had elevated IgM levels indicative of recent infection and, potentially, of an important contribution adults may play to rotavirus transmission. Further understanding of the dynamics of rotavirus transmission within populations, at group and serotype level, would benefit the design and monitoring of future immunization programmes.

Rotavirus diarrhea in children and adults in a southern city of Brazil in 2003: Distribution of G/P types and finding of a rare G12 strain

“…Group A rotavirus disease occurs predominantly in children <5 years old. However, infection with rotavirus is common in all age groups as demonstrated by the presence of rotavirusspecific antibodies in such groups [Cox et al, 1998;Cox and Medley, 2003]. For example, a serological survey of anti-group A rotavirus IgM antibodies conducted in UK adults demonstrated high infection rates in all months irrespective of seasonal rotaviral disease incidence in infants [Cox and Medley, 2003].…”

Epidemiological aspects of rotavirus infections in Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…In Brazil, the presence of rotavirus has been demonstrated in several states by detecting the virus in feces [12][13][14][15], sewage, and rivers [16], as well as by serological surveys [17,18], thus confirming the intense circulation of this enteropathogen in the country.…”

Relationship among epidemiological parameters of six childhood infections in a non-immunized Brazilian community

“…Data consisted of seroprevalence surveys for IgG antibodies against rubella , varicella (Valentim et al 2008), rotaA (Cox et al 1998b), RSV (Cox et al 1998a), HAV (unpublished data) and parvoB19 (Huatuco et al 2008) carried out in the community of Caieiras, a small town in the state of São Paulo (SP), Brazil. The population of Caieiras was about 30,000 inhabitants in 1990, most of them inhabiting an urban area occupying 104 km 2 .…”