Interference Between Enteric Viruses and Live-Attenuated Rotavirus Vaccine Virus in a Healthy Australian Birth Cohort

Abstract

Background: Rotavirus vaccines have reduced effectiveness in high-mortality settings. Interference between enteric viruses and live-attenuated oral vaccine strains may be a factor. Methods: In a birth cohort of healthy Australian infants, parents collected weekly stool samples. Three hundred eighty-one paired swabs collected within 10-days of RotaTeq vaccination from 140 infants were tested for 10 enteric viruses and RotaTeq strains. Results: Collectively, both ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid viruses were negatively associated with RotaTeq shedding (adjusted odds ratio = 0.29, 95% confidence interval = 0.14-0.58 and adjusted odds ratio = 0.30, 95% confidence interval = 0.11-0.78, respectively). Conclusions: Enteric viruses may interfere with RotaTeq replication in the gut and thus RotaTeq stool shedding.