Quantitative evaluation of rotaviral antigenemia in children with acute rotaviral diarrhea

Abstract

Background. Rotaviral antigen and RNA have recently been identified in the serum of patients with rotaviral gastroenteritis, but the roles they play in disease remains undetermined. Methods. Rotaviral antigen and RNA were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay and by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in stool and serum specimens from children with rotaviral diarrhea (n = 102), children with nonrotaviral diarrhea (n = 40), and nondiarrheal control children (n = 30). Results. Rotaviral antigenemia was detected in 64%, 3%, and 0% of the children with rotaviral diarrhea, the children with nonrotaviral diarrhea, and the nondiarrheal control children, respectively. The level of rotaviral antigen in serum was ∼2 × 10 2-fold lower than that in stool, and a moderate correlation was observed between the 2 levels. Rotaviral RNA was detected in 93% of the antigen-positive serum specimens. The median number of RNA copies in serum was ∼1 × 105-fold lower than that in stool, and no correlation was observed between the 2 levels. Serum levels of both antigen and RNA were inversely associated with baseline titers of rotaviral serum immunoglobulin G (P