Anti-rotavirus Vaccination Research Articles

Laboratory-based Rotavirus Surveillance During the Introduction of a Vaccination Program, Brazil, 2005–2009

: Brazil introduced universal antirotavirus vaccination in March 2006. This article reports the results of rotavirus A (RV-A) surveillance from January 2005 to December 2009. : A total of 6109 fecal samples were collected in 18 Brazilian states. RV-A was detected by enzyme immunoassay and/or polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and genotyped through seminested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. : RV-A was detected in 20.3% (n = 1242) of the samples. Among children less than 2 years old, regardless the antirotavirus vaccination status, the rates of RV-A detection were 33.8% in 2005, 23.7% in 2006, 16.8% in 2007, 22.9% in 2008, and 18.3% in 2009 (P < 0.001; χ test for linear trend). Among RV-A-positive samples, genotype G1P[8] or G1P[not typed(NT)] was detected in 14% in 2005, 12.3% in 2006, 9.5% in 2007, 0.7% in 2008, and 20.4% in 2009; G2P[4]/G2P[NT] was characterized in 9% in 2005, 49% in 2006, 66% in 2007, 85% in 2008, and 37.5% in 2009; G3P[8]/G3P[NT] was observed in 8.7% in 2005, 3.5% in 2006, and 5.7% in 2009; G9P[8]/G9P[NT] was observed in 52% in 2005, 22% in 2006, 12.3% in 2007, 3.2% in 2008, and 3.4% in 2009. : Our data demonstrate the reemergence of RV-A genotype G2P[4] in Brazil from 2005 to 2008, and that the rate of G2P[4] detection decreased in 2009, probably reflecting natural oscillations of RV-A genotypes.

Benign infantile seizures associated with gastroenteritis and benign infantile seizures alone in the same patients: Related syndromes or coincidental entities?

We report two patients, the first one had benign infantile seizures (BIS) associated with gastroenteritis (BISG), followed by BIS without gastroenteritis, in the second patient BIS was followed by BISG related to anti-rotavirus vaccine. After 12 and 6 months of follow-up, both patients had normal psychomotor development. BISG may be a situation-related seizure, a coincidental entity associated with BIS. However the case evolutions suggested that both BIS and BISG are related syndromes.

Analisi economica dei costi e dei benefici dell’implementazione di un programma di prevenzione antirotavirus con il vaccino pentavalente in Italia

Background The economic burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) to society is high as shown from results of recent European studies. The evidence suggests that the implementation of antirotavirus vaccination programs can substantially decrease costs, thus freeing resources for alternative uses. The objective of this study was to measure the health benefits and costs of a pentavalent vaccination program in Italy.

Avaliação da imunidade passiva em bezerros nascidos de vacas imunizadas com vacina contra rotavírus

Com o objetivo de monitorar a imunidade passiva em bezerros alimentados com colostro de vacas imunizadas e não imunizadas com vacina contra rotavírus, foram determinados títulos de anticorpos em amostras de sangue e colostro de 26 vacas da raça Holandesa no dia do parto e de seus bezerros, à zero, às 24, 48 horas e aos sete, 14, 21, 28 dias de idade, pelo ensaio imunoenzimático. Tanto no soro sangüíneo como no colostro, os títulos dos isótipos IgG, IgG1 e IgG2 foram mais elevados no grupo dos animais vacinados, porém somente no colostro o aumento foi significativo. Os bezerros alimentados com o colostro das vacas vacinadas apresentaram títulos mais altos dos isótipos IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgA e IgM, após a ingestão do colostro, sendo constatado aumento significativo apenas para os títulos do isótipo IgG2. Amostras positivas para rotavírus foram detectadas nos dois grupos experimentais a partir dos sete dias de idade. A vacinação materna não protegeu efetivamente os bezerros das infecções naturais por rotavírus, pois, apesar de aumentar os títulos séricos de anticorpos anti-rotavírus nos animais vacinados, não foi capaz de impedir a ocorrência da rotavirose nos bezerros alimentados com o colostro das vacas imunizadas.

European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition/European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases Evidence‐Based Guidelines for the Management of Acute Gastroenteritis in Children in Europe: Executive Summary

European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition/European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases Evidence‐Based Guidelines for the Management of Acute Gastroenteritis in Children in Europe: Executive Summary

Evaluation of recombinant BCG expressing rotavirus VP6 as an anti-rotavirus vaccine

Recombinant BCG expressing rotavirus VP6 was explored as an anti-rotavirus vaccine in a mouse model. Three promoters and five ribosome-binding sites were used in episomal and integrative E. coli-mycobacterium shuttle vectors to express VP6 in BCG. The VP6 gene was configured for accumulation within the BCG cytoplasm, secretion from the BCG cell or targeting to the BCG cell membrane. Vectors were assessed in terms of stability, levels of antigen production, immunogenicity and protection in mice. Gross instability occurred in episomal vectors utilizing the hsp60 promoter. However, three integrative vectors using the same expression system and two episomal vectors using inducible promoters were successfully recovered from BCG. Growth rates of the former were not detectably reduced. Growth rates of the latter were considerably reduced, implying the existence of a significant metabolic load. In the absence of selection, loss rate of these plasmids was high. VP6 production levels (0.04–1.78% of total cytoplasmic protein) were on the lower end of the range reported for other rBCG. One episomal and one integrated vaccine reduced viral shedding in intraperitoneally vaccinated mice challenged with rotavirus. Compared to controls, infection-associated faecal shedding of virus was reduced by 66% and 62%, respectively. These protective vectors differ in promoter, ribosome-binding site and antigen production level, but both link the VP6 protein to the 19 kDa lipoprotein signal sequence, suggesting that transport of VP6 to the BCG membrane is important for induction of a protective immune response. Protection occurred in the absence of detectable anti-rotavirus antibody in serum or faeces, implicating cellular immunity in protection.