Prevalence of antibodies to rotavirus in different age-groups of infants in Bochum, West Germany

J Infect Dis. 1988 May;157(5):1014-22. doi: 10.1093/infdis/157.5.1014.

Abstract

We studied the prevalence of antibody to rotavirus in 386 serum samples obtained from different age-groups of infants in Bochum, West Germany. Cord sera mirrored the IgG titer and serotype specificity of the corresponding maternal sera. IgG antibody prevalence decreased with age, reached a minimum between four and 12 months, and increased thereafter. IgM antibodies appeared first in the eight- to 12-month age-group, and IgM prevalence remained high thereafter. The serum level of IgA was low in all age-groups. Significant prevalence increases with increasing age were observed for neutralizing antibodies to rotavirus serotypes 1 and 3. Antibodies to serotype 4 had not reached adult level at 2.5 y of age. Prevalence of antibodies to serotype 2 was low in all age-groups. The percentage of monospecific sera neutralizing only one serotype was high in young infants eight to 12 months of age and decreased significantly with increasing age.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aging / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / analysis*
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Child, Preschool
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Fetal Blood / immunology
  • Germany, West
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Maternally-Acquired
  • Immunoglobulin A / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin G / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin M / analysis
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Rotavirus / classification
  • Rotavirus / immunology*
  • Serotyping

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M