An outbreak of gastroenteritis caused by both rotavirus andShigella sonneiin a private school in Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

SUMMARYIn May 1980 an extensive outbreak ofgastroenteritis occurred in a private school in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Examination of faeces and paired sera showed that this outbreak was caused by both rotavirus and a virulent strain of Shigella sonnei.In the first 19 stool samples collected seven (37 %) had rotavirus only, six (32 %) had Sh. sonnei only, while four (21 %) had both agents. Examination of the second and third stool collections revealed only the presence of Sh. sonnei. The 18 paired sera showed seroconversion for rotavirus in four cases (22 %) and in seven cases (39 %) for Sh. sonnei. The overall attack rate ofthe disease was approximately 75 %, the nursery and kindergarten having higher attack rates. Students in all grades became sick at the same time, and the unimodal curve of the onset dates of symptoms indicates a common source outbreak. Evidence suggested a contaminated water supply.

A serological investigation of rotavirus infections in a shanty town population in Rio de Janeiro

“…20 have shown that ELISA assay is more sensitive for the detection of rotavirus antibodies than complement fixation (CF), immunofluorescen ce (IF) and neutralization tests. In a study envolving a rotavirus epidemic in a school, it was also demonstrated that ELISA is a sensitive method for the detection of antibodies when compared to CF and counter immuno-electrophoresis 18 . This is the reason for which ELISA was chosen to make this study.…”

Epidemiologia das infecções por rotavírus no Brasil e os desafios para o seu controle

“…Nos primeiros meses de 1980, por exemplo, registrou-se extenso surto de diarréia em instituição de ensino privada do Rio de Janeiro, associado a rotavírus e Shigella sonnei (Sutmoller et al, 1982). Nesse estudo, sustenta-se que cerca de 75% dos estudantes e professores foram acometidos.…”

Detection of Rotavirus in Sewage and Creek Water: Efficiency of the Concentration Method

“…In tropical countries, acute gastroenteritis has accounted for very high morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in poor and malnourished populations living in precarious conditions of water supply and sewage disposal systems (Suttmoller et al 1982, Trabulsi et al 1985, Linhares et al 1986). Several outbreaks of waterborne gastroenteritis with suspected rotavirus etiology have been reported in our country and in other parts of the world (Suttmoller et al 1982, Hopkins et al 1984, Linhares et al 1988.…”