Homotypic and heterotypic serological responses to rotavirus neutralization epitopes in immunologically naive and experienced animals.

Gnotobiotic or specific-pathogen-free animals with no previous exposure to rotavirus were vaccinated with strain UK, serotype G6. The highest serological response was to homologous virus; significant but lower responses occurred to viruses with either VP4 or VP7 related to that of vaccine virus; responses to other viruses were of low titer or infrequent. Adult cows vaccinated with UK virus produced increased titers of antibody to all rotavirus serotypes. The increases in titer to homologous virus and to other natural and reassortant viruses sharing VP7 with the vaccine virus were significantly higher than those to all other viruses. These results suggest the presence of common epitopes which are not well recognized in primary infections.