Epidemiology of Rotaviruses in a Cohort of 45 Guatamalan Mayan Indian Children Observed from Birth to the Age of Three Years

Authors:
  • LML. Mata
    L. Mata
  • ASA. Simhon
    A. Simhon
  • JUJ. J. Urrutia
    J. J. Urrutia
  • RKR. A. Kronmal
    R. A. Kronmal
  • RFR. Fernandez
    R. Fernandez
  • BGB. Garcia
    B. Garcia

Abstract
A cohort of 45 children was observed from birth to three years of age in their natural ecosystem to determine patterns of infection, morbidity, and growth. Data from enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis for rotavirus of 5,891 extracts (kept frozen since 1964–1969) of weekly fecal specimens were compared against growth, morbidity, and specimen data files, permitting a retrospective description of the epidemiology of rotavirus infection in the cohort. Rotavirus infections were uncommon in the first months of life in intensively breast-fed infants. Infection increased with age to reach a maximal rate in the six- to 18-month age period. While there was a high incidence of diarrhea in the cohort, rotavirus was associated with only 10% of such episodes. The incidence of rotavirus infection was 1.2 episodes per child-year, and the incidence of rotavirus-associated diarrhea was 0.8 episodes per child-year. Serious outbreaks of rotavirus generally occurred from September through December, with as many as one-half of the children becoming infected. Repeated rotavirus infection was a common phenomenon.