Rotavirus-associated gastro-enteritis at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital. A pilot study

During 1982 a pilot study was initiated to investigate the prevalence of rotavirus-associated gastro-enteritis among the infants and young children admitted to the Gastro-enteritis Unit at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital. The seasonal parameters of the area were included in the study. From March to December 1982 rectal swabs were randomly collected from 256 of the more than 3000 admissions to the unit. The swabs were stored at -20°C until assayed in duplicate by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Overall 32,8% of the patients tested were found to have a rotavirus-associated illness with a definite seasonal pattern emerging, which is not in accordance with other data published for the black population in the RSA.