Prevalence of reovirus-specific antibodies in young children in Nashville, Tennessee

J Infect Dis. 2005 Apr 15;191(8):1221-4. doi: 10.1086/428911. Epub 2005 Mar 8.

Abstract

Although reovirus infections are thought to be common in adults, there have been few assessments of the seroprevalence of reovirus in young children. We developed an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure levels of total antireovirus immunoglobulin A, G, and M in serum specimens collected from otherwise healthy infants and children (1 month to 5 years of age) in Nashville, Tennessee. Of the 272 serum specimens evaluated, 64 (23.5%) tested positive for reovirus-specific antibodies. We observed an age-dependent increase in reovirus-specific antibodies in children 1 year of age and older, peaking at 50.0% in children 5-6 years of age. These findings suggest that reovirus infections are common during early childhood.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Age Distribution
  • Aging / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • Antibody Specificity*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Orthoreovirus, Mammalian / immunology*
  • Reoviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Reoviridae Infections / immunology*
  • Tennessee / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral