Agents affecting health of mother and child in a rural area of Kenya. XI. Antibodies against rotavirus in sera from children living in the Machakos District of Kenya.

207 sera from children under 5 years of age and living in the Machakos District in Kenya were tested in the Complement Fixation Test for antibodies against rotavirus. Two different antigens were used. The superiority of 'O' antigen over Nebraska calf diarrhoea virus antigen was confirmed. After a fall to 29 percent in the 6-8 months age group, the percentage of children with antibodies quickly rises with age to 80 percent at the age of 24 months and to practically 100 percent at the age of 30 months. This age-immunity curve suggests that the majority of children contract infections with rotavirus between 6 and 23 months of age. This is conform the pattern usually found in temperate climate countries.