Antibodies to gastroenteritis viruses in cystic fibrosis patients.

Infectivity of certain enteric viruses including rotavirus is profoundly affected by proteolytic enzymes. To test whether cystic fibrosis patients, possessing chronically decreased levels of pancreatic enzymes, show altered susceptibility to gastroenteritis viruses, we examined sera from patients and controls for antibodies to two major pathogens. In cystic fibrosis patients, normal rotavirus antibody levels were found and Norwalk virus antibody prevalence was unchanged.