Rotavirus infection in a small community

Serial titres of rotavirus specific IgG and IgM have been measured in children and adults living in a small community over a 2 1/4-year period. In all age groups the mean titres of rotavirus specific IgG and IgM rose and fell in parallel with the changes in frequency of gastroenteritis symptoms in the community but after the time when respiratory symptoms reached their peak. Gastroenteritis symptoms were seen most commonly in the children but were also frequent in adults, especially the women. Titres of rotavirus specific IgG changed with age, increasing through childhood into early adult life, but decreased thereafter only to increase again in those over the age of 50 years. Females had higher levels of IgG in all age groups but especially among the children and 30-49-year-old women. The high levels of IgG did not protect the young adults from symptomatic gastroenteritis. Detectable levels of rotavirus specific IgM occurred in all age groups but more commonly in children aged under 10 years and in young adults. Raised levels of IgM were uncommon in the elderly, who rarely suffered gastroenteritis symptoms. An epidemiological model is proposed in which the older members of the community act as a reservoir of rotavirus, passing the infection to the children, who then infect the young adults.