Asymptomatic rotavirus infection within Benin City urban community, Nigeria.

This study was carried out in Benin City urban community, Nigeria as a follow-up of an earlier study carried out on patients admitted to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic rotavirus infection amongst urban children and adults. Eight hundred and twenty one subjects from 200 homes were screened for rotavirus infection between August and December 1990. The 821 stool samples collected from the subjects (541 children and 280 adults) were subjected to studies at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Detection of rotavirus antigen was done by the ELISA method. The overall prevalence of asymptomatic rotavirus infection in this study was 30.8%. The results reflect a high source of reservoir for spread of rotavirus infection within the community.