TABLE 1.

Average quantities of rotavirus antigen detected in feces at various intervals after challenge in mice immunized 6 or 16 weeks previously with either RRV or RRV in SA^a

Postinoculation time and dose	Microcapsule	Quantity (ng/ml) of virus shed at postchallenge day:							P valuec vs:
		1	2	3	4	5	6	Total	Same dose of free virus	dH2O
6 wks
2.2 × 107	SA	<10b	20	16	6	13	<10	55	NSd	<0.0001
2.2 × 107		24	8	<10	<10	<10	<10	32		<0.0001
6.0 × 106	SA	11	59	121	115	38	<10	344	<0.05	NS
6.0 × 106		33	61	10	20	36	<10	160		<0.005
dH2O		<10	195	130	105	83	31	544
16 wks
2.2 × 107	SA	<10	21	<10	<10	<10	<10	21	<0.01	<0.0001
2.2 × 107		16	60	89	63	39	<10	267		<0.001
6.0 × 106	SA	<10	128	190	160	79	43	600	NS	<0.01
6.0 × 106		11	185	147	139	177	<10	659		<0.05
dH2O		120	381	213	252	161	74	1,201

^aGroups of mice were orally inoculated with either RRV or RRV in SA microcapsules. At 6 or 16 weeks after inoculation, the mice were challenged with EDIM. On each of the 6 days following challenge, fecal pellets were collected and later tested for the presence of rotavirus antigen by ELISA. 

^bMice which did not shed detectable quantities of rotavirus were assigned a value of 0 for statistical calculations. The lower limit of detection for the ELISA was 1 ng/ml. 

^cStatistical analyses were performed by Student’s t test; P values of ≤0.05 were considered significant. 

^dNS, not statistically significant.