Laboratory investigations on rotavirus in infantile gastroenteritis in Jamaica.

Between March 1982 and March 1983 rotaviruses were detected in faecal specimens from 193 (19%) of 1020 Jamaican children under 5 years old with acute gastroenteritis. The excretion of rotaviruses in a control group of non-diarrhoeal children was only 1.4%. Rotaviruses were detected more frequently in the cooler months of the year; the prevalence ranged from 1.7% in August to 46% in January. In a comparison of the ELISA technique and electron microscopy for investigating rotavirus infections, the ELISA was demonstrated to be more sensitive especially for weakly positive cases. Because of its relative simplicity, low cost and rapidity the ELISA appears to be more suitable for use in developing countries.