Evidence of Immunity Induced by Naturally Acquired Rotavirus and Norwalk Virus Infection on Two Remote Panamanian Islands

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Abstract
For better understanding of the role of humoral immunity in ameliorating infections with rotavirus (RV) and Norwalk virus (NW), 305 Cuna Indians living on two isolated islands located off Panama's Carribean coast were surveyed daily for diarrhea over a sevenmonth period. Nine (8070) of 108 persons with a baseline RV antibody titer of >1:4 developed RV infection compared with 70 (46%) of 151 persons with a baseline RV antibody titer of P < .001). Thirty-eight (25%) of 151 persons of all ages with baseline RV antibody titer of 1:4 (P < .0O1). Thirty-two (47%) of 68 persons of all ages who had a baseline NW antibody titer of 1:100 (P < .001). The high NW and RV infection rates and the excellent levels of protection provided by specific preexisting humoral antibody to these agents should promote activities aimed at developing vaccines for preventing these infections.