Prevalence of antibodies to human caliciviruses (HuCVs) in Kuwait established by ELISA using baculovirus‐expressed capsid antigens representing two genogroups of HuCVs

Abstract

Baculovirus recombinant-expressed antigens of Norwalk viruses (rNV) and a Mexico strain (rMX) of the Snow Mountain serogroup of human caliciviruses (HuCVs) were used in enzyme immunoassays to study the antibody prevalence among the Kuwaiti population and foreign workers employed in Kuwait. The antibody titers in 16 different age groups which ranged from neonates to centenarians were investigated by testing eight different dilutions of each serum (1:200-1:25,600). The results indicate that NV infection is widespread in Kuwait and affects all age groups Ninety-eight percent of the 433 serum samples tested had antibodies to rNV. In the 50-79-year, old age group, the antibody levels to rNV were higher and significantly different from those in children 0-7 years old. In infants, the rNV antibodies did not diminish by 4 months of age and their titer steadily increased with age. When 414 of these sera samples were tested for antibodies to rMX, 96% positive serological responses were observed. Antibody titers to rMX were reduced in infants from 4 to 11 months; however, 95% of the samples were positive. These data indicate that children born in Kuwait are infected with Norwalk-like viruses at a very early age. Finally, antibodies to rNV and rMX were found in 98% of 151 and in 95% of 148 foreign workers, respectively.

Seroprevalence of Antibodies against Noroviruses among Students in a Chinese Military Medical University

“…In the present study, the overall prevalence of antibody to the three NVs among the study population was high, a finding that is comparable to most of the studies performed in other developing countries (5,20,31). However, the prevalence of antibody to MxV was lower in our study than the data reported by Jing et al in a study on a population in the Beijing area, in which high prevalences of antibody to both Norwalk and MxV viruses were observed (25).…”

“…NVs are commonly detected in stool specimens of children with acute gastroenteritis at inpatient and outpatient clinics, indicating that NVs may cause severe gastroenteritis in children that requires hospitalization or a physician visit. Seroepidemiology studies also showed that children acquire antibodies to NVs at early ages, and the antibody prevalence continued to increase during the school years to adulthood (4,5,9,25,33). The antibody prevalence is generally higher in developing countries than in developed countries.…”

Norovirus Capture with Histo-Blood Group Antigens Reveals Novel Virus-Ligand Interactions

“…We therefore speculate that secretor-negative individuals might be genetically resistant to a variety of norovirus strains, not just NV. However, most adult humans have serum antibody against noroviruses regardless of their secretor status (14,16,39,45; C. Moe et al, unpublished data), suggesting that some norovirus strains might be able to infect secretornegative individuals. In support of these observations, VLPs of one particular norovirus stain (VA207) bound to saliva from secretor-negative individuals (31), although the VLPs also bound modestly to saliva from secretor-positive individuals.…”

Viral infections of the gastrointestinal tract

“…Seroepidemiologic studies suggest that the adult cases of acute sporadic gastroenteritis that defy diagnosis may be caused by atypical rotaviruses, such as group C rotavirus [9] and caliciviruses [10].…”