An outbreak of group A rotavirus gastroenteritis at a home for the aged, March-April 2000 - Yamanashi
(IASR 2000; 21:144-144)

During the middle of March to the early April, 2000, 14 elderly persons complained fever, diarrhea, and vomiting at nursing home A. Index case developed illness on March 13, and the other 13 presented illness sporadically during March 17 to April 8. Nursing home A was 2-storied house, and approximately 93 residents lived in the home during the period. Thirteen patients including the index case lived in the first floor, and they were all in 7 west-side rooms.

The index case visited a hospital, and group A rotavirus was confirmed by immuno-chromatography. Using latex agglutination (Rota-adeno Dry), group A rotavirus was detected from 6 stool specimens from the rest of 13 patients. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) developed by Gouvea et al. detected rotavirus gene not only from these 6 specimens, but also another specimen which was negative by latex agglutination test. These detections were all classified in G serotype 2. Either adenovirus or small round structured virus (SRSV) was not detected. No virus was cultured by HEp-2, RD-18S, and CaCo-2 cells.

Common symptoms of 8 confirmed cases included fever (37.1-38.6C) and diarrhea, and 6 cases presented vomiting. One patient complained abdominal pain. Four cases complicated dehydration and intra-venous fluid was given, and they were recovered within 2-4 days.

Few cases are reported about rotavirus infection among the elderly. In Japan few cases of G serotype 2 rotavirus were sporadically detected in a last decade, and its epidemic was not observed. Japanese population may not have immunity against this serotype, and immuno-compromized elderly population might have developed illness.

Reported by: Hiroyoshi Asakawa, Atsuhiko Machida, and Shigeru Ozawa, Yamanashi Institute for Public Health;
Hiroshi Yokoyama and Takaya Yamagami, Yamanashi Central Hospital.

Correspondence: Hiroyoshi Asakawa;
E-mail: asakawa-thh@pref.yamanashi.jp
Fax: +81-55-253-5637

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