Effect of wastewater spray irrigation on rotavirus infection rates in an exposed population

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. This report concerns the incidence of rotavirus infections in study participates 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 (ELISA). 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% (3298) of children ⩽ 16 years of age and in 12.7% (33260) of adults (⩾ 17 years old) with a single infection. Thus, significantly more (P < 0.0001) rotavirus infections occurred in children. Baseline rotavirus serum antibody titers were found to be significantly lower (P = 0.047) in subjects who seroconverted. However, many children and adults with high titers were also infected. More seroconversions were observed between June and December (January) than between December (January) and June. Wastewater spray irrigation had no detectable effect on the incidence of rotavirus infection.