Infection with group C rotavirus in a suburban community in Brazil

Group C rotaviruses are associated with sporadic outbreaks of gastroenterit is worldwide. Age-specific seroprevalence of group C rotavirus antibodies w as investigated in sera, randomly collected and representative of a suburba n community in Brazil which had previously been screened for group A rotavi rus antibodies. Antibody prevalence to group C rotavirus was low in childre n under 5 years and increased slowly with age to 36% seropositivity in adul ts, reflecting continuous exposure to primary infection in all age groups. This suggests a higher incidence of infection than disease might predict. A dult antibody prevalence tvas similar to that in other geographical setting s. No obvious patterns of infection with group A and group C rotavirus were found within individuals, which suggests independent transmission. However , further epidemiological studies are required to understand group C rotavi rus dynamics and possible interactions with group A rotavirus transmission and immunity.