PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODIES TO NORWALK VIRUS AMONG AMERINDIANS IN ISOLATED AMAZONIAN COMMUNITIES

The seroepidemiology of Norwalk virus infections was examined among Amerindians belonging to eight relatively isolated communities in the Amazon region by means of a new enzyme immunoassay using recombinant Norwalk virus antigen. The seroprevalence of antibodies to Norwalk virus ranged from 39% in the Maiogong to 100% in the Kubenkrankrein. The distribution of antibody levels varied greatly among groups; five of the eight communities had an antibody prevalence greater than 90% with many high values (> 100 units), while three had both a low seroprevalence and a preponderance of low values (< 100 units). While few children less than 5 years of age were sampled, no significant differences in antibody prevalence were noted among age groups, and the prevalence of antibody among children 5-10 years of age approached that of the older age groups. The low prevalence of titers of antibodies to Norwalk virus in several tribes living in these isolated Indian communities suggests that Norwalk virus may have been only recently introduced.