Effect of Wastewater Spray Irrigation on Rotavirus Infection Rates in an Exposed Population

摘要

The Lubbock infection surveillance study was conducted between June 1980 and October 1983 to detect potential increases in enteric infection and disease incidence in a community surrounding a wastewater spray irrigation site. The report concerns the incidence of rotavirus infections in study participants during that period. Rotavirus infection was defined as a > 2-fold increase in rotavirus serum antibody between blood collections which occurred approximately every 6 months. Antibody was detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Of the 368 participants who provided > 2 blood specimens, 67 seroconversions to rotavirus were detected, an average annual rate of 6.8 infections/100 subjects. One subject was infected twice. Seroconversions were observed in 32.7% (32/98) of children 17 years old) with a single infection. Thus, significantly more (P