NAME: Human rotavirus
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: HRV, Sporadic viral gastroenteritis; severe viral gastroenteritis of infants and children; non-bacterial gastroenteritis of infancy, rotaviral enteritis
CHARACTERISTICS: Reoviridae; double capsid shell, naked, icosahedral virion; 60-80 nm in diameter; double stranded RNA, linear, segmented genome; wheel-like appearance; seven major serogroups (A-G), human strains belong predominantly to strain A; large epidemics have been reported in China with serogroup B
PATHOGENICITY: Infects the mature villous epithelium of the small intestine; characterized by fever and vomiting, followed by a watery diarrhea; occasionally associated with severe dehydration and death in children; neurologic abnormalities ranging from aseptic meningitis to subdural haemorrhage related to electrolyte loss; infections in adults are subclinical; local and systemic immune responses are evoked; repeated infections tend to be less severe than the original infection
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; the single most important cause of gastroenteritis in children (95% of children worldwide are infected); peak of infection occurs between 4 months and 3 years of age; adults are mostly asymptomatic; in temperate regions, infections are most frequent during the winter and early spring months; high incidence in day-care settings; major cause of nosocomial diarrhea of newborns and infants
HOST RANGE: Humans; experimentally infected animals
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Fecal-oral route; person-to-person; contact with respiratory secretions, contaminated water, food or other surfaces; contact with fomites
INCUBATION PERIOD: Usually 24 to 72 hours
COMMUNICABILITY: Shed in feces during acute stages of the disease and up to 8 days after symptoms subside
RESERVOIR: Humans; animal strains of rotavirus differ from those that infect humans
ZOONOSIS: None
VECTORS: None
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: No specific antivirals
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 95% ethanol, 2% formalin, 5% lysol, 2% sodium hypochlorite but requires prolonged exposure
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Stable at acidic pH (3.0 - 3.5); sensitive to heating above 50° C; stabilized by the addition of 2M magnesium sulfate
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives for months at 4° C and 20° C
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms and for demonstration of rotavirus antigen in stools by EIA
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Supportive therapy to prevent dehydration, acidosis and shock, single oral dose of gamma globulin reduces duration of illness and virus shedding
IMMUNIZATION: FDA approved live virus vaccine, tetravalent rhesus-based (Rotashield); not recommended for infants due to correlation of vaccine use and intussusception (bowel obstruction)
PROPHYLAXIS: None available
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported to date
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Stools, rectal swab
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Ingestion; droplet exposure of the mucous membranes; inhalation of infectious aerosols
SPECIAL HAZARDS: None
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment facilities for all activities involving virus and infectious body fluids and tissues
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when skin contact with infectious materials is unavoidable
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Frequent hand-washing and good hygiene
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing gently cover spill with absorbent paper towel and apply 2% sodium hypochlorite to the spill starting at the perimeter and working towards the centre; wait 4 hours before clean up
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled
Date prepared: April, 2001
Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC
Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.
Copyright ©
Health Canada, 2001