title: Respiratory syncytial virus: changes in prevalence of subgroups A and B among Argentinian children, 1990-1996.
abstract: The frequency of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the distribution of subgroups A and B strains during 7 consecutive years (1990-1996) were examined in two cities of Argentina. Nasopharyngeal aspirates from 1,304 children less than 2 years of age hospitalized with acute lower respiratory infection were studied by indirect immunofluorescence. RSV was detected in 352 cases (26.9%), and the peak activity was observed in midwinter. Subgroup characterization was performed with two monoclonal antibodies against the F protein on nasopharyngeal aspirate smears. Of 195 samples, 174 (89.2%) were identified as subgroup A strains and 21 (10.8%) as subgroup B. Both strains cocirculated during 5 of 7 years studied with subgroup A predominating. Subgroup A occurred at least 8 times as often in all years except for 1994-1995. Children infected by subgroup A were younger than those infected by subgroup B (P < 0.05). The association of subgroup A infection with bronchiolitis and subgroup B with pneumonia was statistically significant (P < 0.03).
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Virología, Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas N. Quirno (CEMIC), Buenos Aires, Argentina. gcarballal@cemic.edu.ar
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carballal
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Videla
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Sequeira
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mistchenko
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Requeijo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arbiza
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D001990:Bronchiolitis, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000145:classification*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D012621:Seasons; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral