To determine whether rotavirus infections are linked to secretor status, we studied samples from children in Tunisia with gastroenteritis. We phenotyped saliva for human blood group antigens and tested feces for rotavirus. Rotavirus was detected in 32/114 patients. Secretor genotyping showed that P[8] rotavirus infected secretors and nonsecretors, and infection correlated with presence of Lewis antigen.
Keywords: HBGA; Lewis antigen; Tunisia; children; gastroenteritis; human blood group antigens; nonsecretor; rotavirus; rotavirus P[8]; secretor; viruses.