The Internet has become an important health information resource for patients and the general public. Wikipedia, a collaboratively written Web-based encyclopedia, has become the dominant online reference work. It is usually among the top results of search engine queries, including when medical information is sought. Since April 2004, editors have formed a group called WikiProject Medicine to coordinate and discuss the English-language Wikipedia’s medical content. This paper, written by members of the WikiProject Medicine, discusses the intricacies, strengths, and weaknesses of Wikipedia as a source of health information and compares it with other medical wikis. Medical professionals, their societies, patient groups, and institutions can help improve Wikipedia’s health-related entries. Several examples of partnerships already show that there is enthusiasm to strengthen Wikipedia’s biomedical content. Given its unique global reach, we believe its possibilities for use as a tool for worldwide health promotion are underestimated. We invite the medical community to join in editing Wikipedia, with the goal of providing people with free access to reliable, understandable, and up-to-date health information.

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A neutralisation test using cell culture and indirect immunofluorescence was applied to isolates of rotavirus from 55 patients with gastroenteritis, in order to determine serotypes. Frequent cross-reactions were observed, but subsequent statistical analysis confirmed the existence of at least three distinct serotypes. Some results, not sufficient for analysis, suggest that at least five serotypes probably exist. It is suggested that two or more viral polypeptides might be involved in neutralisation, one of which might be common to another serotype(s). This would explain the frequent cross-reactions detected by this neutralisation test. Evidence suggesting that some strains may be hybrids is also presented.

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A method is described for the serotyping and subgrouping of rotaviruses by enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). For the isolates tested "blind" under code in parallel the serotyping results obtained by ELISA and serum neutralization of fluorescent focus formation were the same. After absorption of the typing antisera with purified heterotypic rotavirus, up to 128-fold differences in titres between isolates were observed in the ELISA test. The results of serotyping and subgrouping, by ELISA, of strains previously described and characterized by the authors' and other laboratories are also given. An attempt is made to correlate the serological findings with variations between virus strains based upon patterns of genome molecular weights as revealed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The application of this ELISA technique to epidemiological studies and vaccine research is discussed.