The Etiology and Pathogenesis of Viral Gastroenteritis.

An improved method to identify human rotavirus in stool samples was developed through preparation and use of a monoclonal antibody reagent directed against the group specific antigen shared by mammalian rotaviruses. The monoclonal antibody reagent has been adapted to an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay EIA, making it available for use in field studies. This monoclonal EIA has considerably improved the sensitivity and specificity of rotavirus EIA detection efforts with neonatal stool samples and adult stool specimens. We are also continuing to develop monoclonal antibodies against the to-date noncultivatable Norwalk virus both by production of human-mouse heterohybridomas and by immunization of mice with extensively purified Norwalk virus. Recently, we began to develop a much needed convenient, quantitative immunoassay for the study of enteric adenoviruses types 40 and 41in spite of current difficulties in their recognition in vitro. We reported severe diarrhea produced by rotavirus in adults requiring hospitalization in Thailand, as well as evidence implicating rotavirus as a cause of waterborne gastroenteritis in the U.S. Six U.S. outbreaks of gastroenteritis associated with the consumption of raw and undercooked clams and oysters were shown to be produced by Norwalk virus one Norwalk virus outbreak was associated with eating food from a salad bar.