title: Coronavirus-like particles in adults in Melbourne, Australia.
abstract: Coronavirus-like particle(s) (CVLP) are faecal-derived pleomorphic membrane bound virus-like particles characterised by a fringe of club-shaped spikes that measure about 27 nm in length. The association of CVLP with a variety of social, clinical, and epidemiological factors was examined after a 69 month survey of faeces received for routine testing at an infectious diseases hospital. CVLP was found most commonly in three groups: first, intellectually retarded individuals who were usually inmates of institutions; second, recent overseas travellers who were either Indochinese refugees/immigrants or were overseas travellers who had usually visited developing communities for lengthy periods; and, third, male homosexuals who had a history of multiple sexual contacts and/or venereal disease. It was concluded that the excretion of CVLP had a strong association with unhygienic living or working conditions irrespective of any clinical symptoms the individual might show.
authors.affiliation: Virology Department, Fairfield Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Gust
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003332:Coronaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003333:Coronaviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases; D014195:Travel