Prevention of rotavirus-induced diarrhea in neonatal mice born to dams immunized with empty capsids of simian rotavirus SA-11.

Female CF-1 mice were immunized subcutaneously with a rotavirus vaccine consisting of noninfectious, purified empty capsids from simian rotavirus SA-11 and were given a booster dose at 14-17 days of gestation. The vaccinated animals developed high titers of rotavirus-specific IgG in colostrum and milk. Virus-specific IgA titers were significantly (150-fold) lower, and virus-specific IgM was not detected. These results contrast with those obtained in natural and experimental infections of the gastrointestinal tract with epizootic-diarrhea infant-mouse ( EDIM ) virus; in such cases, intestinal and lacteal virus-specific antibody is primarily of the IgA isotype. Suckling mice born to vaccinated dams were challenged with infectious EDIM virus and monitored for the development of diarrheal disease; these neonates acquired maternal antibody and did not develop diarrhea.