Rotavirus immunoglobulin levels among Indian mothers of two socio‐economic groups and occurrence of rotavirus infections among their infants up to six months

Abstract

Rotavirus specific immunoglobulin levels were estimated and compared between mothers undergoing delivery from two socio-economic groups (n = 56 each) by direct/capture ELISA. IgG geometric mean titers (GMTs) of cord blood/mothers serum at delivery were significantly higher in the higher socio-economic group (HSG) as compared to the lower socio-economic group (LSG) (P < 0.01). Thirty-four mother-infant pairs (17 from each group) were followed-up up to 6 months for the occurrence of rotavirus infections. All follow-up LSG infants were low birth weight as against none from the HSG. Detection of virus by ELISA/RT-PCR and considering IgM/IgA seroconversion as an index of infection, 11 and 17 infants from HSG and LSG respectively had rotavirus infections. Two infants from LSG were hospitalized for severe rotavirus diarrhea but none from the HSG. Lower IgG levels in the LSG mother-infant pairs as compared to those of HSG, suggests a possible role of under nutrition in development of antibodies and immunity. Infants from the HSG who did not have rotavirus infections had significantly higher IgG GMTs in cord blood and serum samples at 6 months, than those HSG infants who had symptomatic/asymptomatic rotavirus infections (P < 0.05). In conclusion, fewer rotavirus infections occur when cord blood contains higher level of IgG antibodies, suggesting a role of protective immunity.

Rotavirus Genotypes and Vaccine Effectiveness from a Sentinel, Hospital-Based, Surveillance Study for Three Consecutive Rotavirus Seasons in Lebanon

“…RV infection can range from being asymptomatic to a severe symptomatic one [3]. The main clinical symptoms of RV infections are fever, vomiting, and diarrhea in infants and young children.…”

“…The age group most susceptible to severe RV infection ranges from 3 months to 2 years. RV infection is generally asymptomatic in neonates, since they are protected by transplacental transfer of maternal antibodies [3]. As for adults, the incidence of RV infection is low and symptoms are unlikely to be severe although outbreaks in adolescents and adults have been described [3].…”

Safety and immunogenicity of a parenterally administered rotavirus VP8 subunit vaccine in healthy adults

“…The induction of high antibody titers by adjuvanted parenteral injection of non-replicating vaccines may result in mucosal protection mediated by the induction and transudation of antibodies into the gut. The high titers of circulating anti-rotavirus antibodies transmitted transplacentally in humans appear to both modulate the take of live oral vaccines and be protective against early rotavirus disease [10][11][12][13]. Furthermore, passively administered antibody may prevent or diminish rotavirus disease [6,14].…”

Acute Gastroenteritis Viruses

“…Human studies have demonstrated a role for serum antibodies in correlation with protection against reinfection when present at critical levels . Transplacentally acquired antibodies appear to confer protection to infants in the first few months of life (Jayashree et al, 1988;Ramachandran et al, 1998;Ray et al, 2007).…”