Rotavirus Follow-up

Rotavirus Follow-up

Despite the fact that there is not a rotavirus vaccine currently available,¹ another approach in disease management such as passive protection can be used. For many gastrointestinal infections, the most important protective factor is the presence of specific antibody in the lumen of the small intestine. Passively acquired antibodies derived from cows hyperimmunized against rotavirus have been used for the prevention of rotavirus diarrhea.

We have successfully developed hyperimmune bovine colostrum containing high levels of specific neutralizing antibody to the four major human rotavirus strains. Successfully used in hospitals and child care centers in Australia as well as in hospitals in developing countries, hyperimmune bovine colostrum [Gastrogard-R] has been shown to reduce rotavirus diarrhea significantly and to provide protection in infants and children from rotavirus cross-infection.

In addition, several researchers have shown the therapeutic efficacy of hyperimmune bovine colostrum in the treatment of rotavirus gastroenteritis. Hyperimmune bovine...