Virological and serological aspects of immune resistance to rotavirus gastroenteritis.

Some aspects of immune resistance to rotavirus gastroenteritis were assessed on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings during several outbreaks of gastroenteritis due to rotavirus of serotype 1 or 3 in a welfare nursery. Protection against rotavirus gastroenteritis was serotype specific and seemed to be related to levels of antibody to homotypic virus. The short duration of the protective effect may explain recurrent attacks of gastroenteritis due to the same serotype. Heterotypic antibody responses suggested that immunity to heterotypic virus can be induced by natural rotavirus infection or a rotavirus vaccine. Results of a field trial of a candidate vaccine, rhesus rotavirus strain MMU 18006, were used as a basis for evaluating strategies for vaccine development.