Neonatal Rotavirus Infection in Urban and Rural Communities in Nigeria

Two hundred and thirteen neonates from an urban and a rural community in Nigeria were examined for neonatal rotavirus infection. Twenty-four (11%) were shedding rotavirus in their stools. All newborns shedding rotavirus were either asymptomatic or had very mild diarrhoea. Most infections (71%) were detected during the first week of life; 21% and 8% occurred in the second and third weeks respectively. ELISA subgrouping of the rotavirus strains obtained from these neonates showed that 30% belonged to subgroup I and 70% to subgroup II. A survey for rotavirus antibody in a revealed that 67% of these children had antibody in their cord sera. Most of the newborns shedding rotavirus in stool had passively acquired antibody in their sera.