Exploring the Rotavirus Risk in Latin American Food and Water

Rotavirus is considered a major public health problem worldwide because many children, adults, and animals die from gastroenteritis due to rotavirus; rotavirus contamination follows the fecal/oral route, and it is well supported that infection can also be achieved by consuming food and water that is contaminated with rotavirus. Research has shown that, in Latin American countries, unusual emerging strains of rotavirus are occurring in children and adults with gastroenteritis; which contain in their sequence genes from rotavirus genotypes detected in animals; Therefore, researchers consider it a virus with zoonotic potential.

In this review, I propose that rotavirus transmission occurs from wild animals, who use an intermediate host before contaminating humans, by means of the fecal/oral route, food, and water. Rotavirus produces genetic rearrangements generating new emerging strains, which are excreted into the environment. Generally, during the dry season in our Latin American countries, contaminated water is used to irrigate crops, and from there, much of this water ends up in the sea, where rotavirus is absorbed by filter-feeding molluscs, and from there, consumed by man and animals continuing its cycle.

Studies on the molecular characterization of rotavirus strains detected in food and water provide new insights into possible rotavirus genetic rearrangements and zoonoses. The emergence of strains derived from interspecies transmission has implicated and inspired the study of different vaccine strategies.