ABSTRACT
Rotaviruses, established as a genus of the family Reoviridae, are named for their wheellike structure where the double icosahedral shell of protein subunits forms a "rim" around the nucleic acid core. Rotaviruses are highly infectious. Rotaviruses are further classified based on antigenic relationships defined by the capsid proteins. Rotaviruses have a wide host range and are only partially restricted to specific hosts. The epidemiology of rotaviruses is further complicated by the existence of multiple serotypes and repeated infections. Very little published information is available on the removal and inactivation of rotaviruses during food preparation. Infectious rotavirus particles have been recovered from a variety of natural waters, including those used for drinking. Rotavirus survival on inanimate surfaces is also influenced by relative humidity and air temperature. The Wa strain of human rotavirus, when suspended in feces, was found to survive well on the fingerpads of volunteers. The frequency of outbreaks of gastroenteritis due to group B and C rotaviruses is rising.
