A SURVEY OF ROTAVIRUS INFECTION IN THE TROPICS

The age distribution of rotavirus antibody in the serum of inhabitants of Laos and Indonesia was studied by the neutralization test using antigenically related calf rotavirus (NCDV) as a substitute for non-cultivable human rotavirus. The results revealed that both the rate of antibody-positives and the modal titers of antibody distribution by each age group in these countries were higher than those in respective age groups of Japanese, which suggest higher endemicity of rotavirus infection in these countries. A survey of rotavirus in diarrheic patients' stools by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay indicated that the virus infection occurred most frequently among infants between 4 and 12 months of age.