Rotavirus is the leading cause of diarrhea in the United States. It is also a major cause of gastroenteritis as well. Although gastroenteritis associated with rotavirus is not usually fatal in the United States, it can be extremely fatal in developing c

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Food Microbiology        Rotavirus        Farnoosh Mazari

Rotavirus

Rotavirus is an infectious disease that is caused by an RNA virus.  It is a member of the Reoviridae family of viruses. Members of the Reoviridae family have a genome that consists of 11 double-stranded RNA segments which are surrounded by a  double-layered protein capsid. The virus particles are about 70 nm in diameter.  Six groups of rotavirus have been identified.  Groups A,B, and C infect humans (FDA, 2009.)  Groups D,E, and F infect certain animals.  

        Rotavirus is the leading cause of diarrhea in the United States.  It is also a major cause of gastroenteritis as well.  Although gastroenteritis associated with rotavirus is not usually fatal in the United States, it can be extremely fatal in developing countries.  In this country, the virus is responsible for 3.5 million cases of diarrhea annually.  It is also responsible for approximately 50,000 hospitalizations and accounts for around 20 deaths of children under the age of 5 every year.  In both underdeveloped and developed nations, rotavirus is a major cause of gastroenteritis in young children and infants.

        Almost all children contract rotavirus by the age of 3.  Although rotavirus can be contracted at any age, children between the ages of 6-24 months are the most at risk.   This is because maternally acquired immune factors typically disappear around 5 months of age.  In fact, 75% of hospitalizations involve children under 24 months of

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age.  The most dangerous rotavirus infection is usually an infant’s first rotavirus infection.

Rotavirus infections in adults have been reported widely as well.  Cases of Rotavirus infection have been reported amongst hospital employees, military personnel, cruise ship and travel personnel, and restaurant patrons.  Fifty percent of parents whose infants are infected with rotavirus, also contract it as well.  It is common for reinfection to occur in adults and children.  

        In North America,  urban outbreaks typically begin in the south and progressing to the north and east. These  rotavirus outbreaks usually last for  4-5 months and occur primarily ...

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