Coronavirus HKU1 infection in the United States.
In 2005, a new human coronavirus, HCoV-HKU1, was identified in Hong Kong. We screened respiratory specimens collected from December 16, 2001, to December 15, 2002, from children <5 years of age who tested negative for respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza viruses, influenza virus, and adenovirus for HCoV-HKU1 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Overall, 1,048 respiratory specimens from 851 children were tested, and 9 HCoV-HKU1-positive children (1%) were identified, 2 of whom had 2 positive specimens. Children who had HCoV-HKU1 infection had evidence of either upper or lower respiratory tract infection or both. Two patients had disease beyond the respiratory tract. HCoV-HKU1 was identified from December 2001 to February 2002. Sequence analyses suggest that a single strain was circulating. HCoV-HKU1 is therefore likely circulating in the United States and is associated with upper and lower respiratory tract disease.
Esper
Frank
F
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Weibel
Carla
C
Ferguson
David
D
Landry
Marie L
ML
Kahn
Jeffrey S
JS
D017934:Coronavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D012367:RNA, Viral