Davidson GP, Terry SJ, Whyte PBW, Pacyna J, Hiller JE, Ryan P, Ferson MJ.
Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. Vol 14, page A188, Oct 1999.
Australian Gastroenterology Week, 4-8 October 1999, Brisbane, Australia

ABSTRACT:

Rotavirus is a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in children attending day care. Previous studies have shown hyperimmune bovine colostrum anti rotavirus (HBC-A) has been effective in preventing symptomatic rotavirus infection in hospitals and in the community. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of HBC-A in the prevention of symptomatic rotavirus infection in day care centres. A double blinded, two way parallel cluster randomised study was carried out in 22 day care centres in South Australia over 20 weeks during the rotavirus season. Two hundred and forty five children received active product (10% solution of HBC-A in whole milk), 238 control product (whole milk) and 250 were monitored but did not receive any either product. Six hundred ml of HBC-A or control milk was given daily in three divided amounts. Only one child in the actively treated group developed symptomatic rotavirus infection compared with 12 in the combined placebo and monitored group (p=0.018). There was significant decrease in both rotavirus diarrhoea days/1000 observation days between the active group compared with the combined placebo and monitored group (0.51 days vs 1.25 days p=0.004) and also in overall observed diarrhoea days/1000 observation days (7.42 vs 13.84 p=0.0001). No adverse reaction were noted. HBC-A is a simple safe effective and well tolerated way of preventing symptomatic rotavirus infection in day care centres, which also produced a reduction in the overall incidence of diarrhoeal illness in these centres. A similar approach may be effective in preventing other common day care centre gastrointestinal infections.