title: Clinical characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) subgroup infections in Japan.
abstract: The subgroup characteristics of 130 strains of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) isolated in Sapporo during 9 epidemic years 1980-1989 were determined. Monoclonal antibodies raised against the RSV Long strains were used. Subgroup A included 77 (59.2%) isolates and subgroup B 52 (40.0%) strains, while 1 strain was considered to be a variant of a subgroup A strain. The distribution by age of infants and children was different for the 2 subgroups: less than 1 year of age infants with subgroup A infection dominated, greater than 1 year of age subgroup A infections were less common than subgroup B infections. These was no difference in type of illness between the subgroups. Bronchiolitis was the dominant diagnosis in all patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sapporo Medical College, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsutsumi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onuma
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chiba
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000145:classification*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012737:Sex Factors