Rotavirus gastroenteritis in children: antigen detection using enzyme immunoassay techniques

Abstract

Rotaviruses are a major cause of diarrhoeal disease in human infants and young animals. Acute gastroenteritis is a very common illness with a significant public health impact. It is estimated that five million deaths occur annually from this disease in developing countries. Rotaviruses are classified in the Reoviruses family. The viruses are nonenveloped and have double icosahedral capsid shells. The genome consists of double stranded segmented RNA. The complete particles are 70 nm in diameter and are infectious. Rotaviruses have a wide host range. Besides humans they also infect a wide range of animals. There are at least two major subgroups and six serotypes of human Rotavirus. They present common antigens and can be detected by complement fixation, immunofluorescence and enzyme immunoassay tests.