Detection of Norwalk virus or Norwalk-like virus infections in Finnish infants and young children

J Infect Dis. 1994 Jun;169(6):1364-7. doi: 10.1093/infdis/169.6.1364.

Abstract

Norwalk virus (NV) and Norwalk-like viruses are important causes of epidemic nonbacterial gastroenteritis in older children and adults. Serologic responses to NV of 154 Finnish infants and young children participating in a rotavirus vaccine study were examined by ELISA with a recently available baculovirus-expressed recombinant NV capsid protein. In 4 serially collected sera (at the median ages of 3, 4, 14, and 23 months), 49% of children had at least one NV infection over the approximately 2-year study period. Children with low NV-specific IgG titers (< 1:50) at the median age of 4 or 14 months were significantly more likely to acquire an NV infection by the median age of 14 or 23 months, respectively, than children who had higher NV IgG titers (> 1:50) (P < .05). Thus, NV or Norwalk-like virus infections are more common in infants and young children than previously believed, and antibody to NV may be protective against such infections.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Caliciviridae Infections / epidemiology*
  • Caliciviridae Infections / microbiology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Finland / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A / analysis
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Norwalk virus / isolation & purification*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin A