Effect of Breast-Feeding on Oral Rhesus Rotavirus Vaccine Seroconversion: A Metaanalysis

The effect of concomitant breast-feeding on seroconversion following oral administration of rhesus rotavirus vaccine (RRV, serotype 3, strain MMU 18006) at 10(4) pfu was analyzed. Three studies were included, all randomized, double-blind trials involving a single dose of RRV to infants aged 2-5 months. None received concomitant oral polio vaccine. Seroconversion was measured by microneutralization or tube neutralization assay. The results show that 42 (48%) of 88 (95% confidence interval, 37%-58%) breast-fed babies seroconverted compared with 62 (70%) of 88 (95% confidence interval, 61%-80%) bottle-fed babies (chi 2 = 9.35, P less than .005). Thus, there was a significant adverse effect of breast-feeding with respect to RRV vaccine seroconversion.