Human rotavirus detection by agglutination of antibody-coated erythrocytes

We sensitized sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) with antibodies against human rotavirus strain Wa (SRBC-antiWa) and antibodies against calf rotavirus strain NCDV (SRBC-antiNCDV). These were readily agglutinated in the presence of homologous antigens, i.e., human rotavirus and calf rotavirus. By the hemagglutination of SRBC-antiWa and SRBC-antiNCDV (reverse passive hemagglutination [RPHA]), titration of rotavirus in extracts from feces of children suffering from diarrhea (61 specimens) was carried out. We found that the ratio of titers determined with SRBC-antiWa and SRBC-antiNCDV varied remarkably from specimen to specimen. This indicated that the antigenic determinants on human rotavirus in patients feces cross-react with antibodies against NCDV to varying extents. To express the cross-reactivity of human rotavirus with antibodies to NCDV, we propose a Wa/NCDV rotavirus index which can be calculated from the RPHA titer with SRBC-antiWa and SRBC-antiNCDV as follows: Wa/NCDV rotavirus index = (antiWa-RPHA titer of specimen/antiWa-RPHA titer of NCDV)/(antiNCDV-RPHA titer of specimen/antiNCDV-RPHA titer of NCDV).