Detection by ELISA of immunoglobulin G subclass‐specific antibody responses in rotavirus infections in children

IgG subclass‐specific antibody responses to a human subgroup 2 rotavirus were studied in 26 children by ELISA by use of monoclonal antibodies specific to the four human IgG subclasses. One hundred twenty‐nine serum samples were obtained before, during, and after an episode of rotavirus‐induced diarrhoea in these patients. When these sera were investigated, an increase in IgG 1 and IgG 3 subclass‐specific antibodies was detected in all 26 patients. IgG 3 antibodies reached a peak concentration 1 week after rotavirus was detected in faecal samples and then progressively declined over the following months, whereas the peak concentration of IgG 1 subclass antibodies was found 2 months later and seemed to persist thereafter. IgG 2 rotavirus‐specific subclass antibodies were never found and IgG 4 subclass antibodies were detected only in sera from seven of the 26 patients.