Detection and typing by molecular techniques of respiratory viruses in children hospitalized for acute respiratory infection in Rome, Italy.
Detection of a broad number of respiratory viruses is not undertaken currently for the diagnosis of acute respiratory infection due to the large and always increasing list of pathogens involved. A 1-year study was undertaken on children hospitalized consecutively for acute respiratory infection in a Pediatric Department in Rome to characterize the viruses involved. Two hundred twenty-seven children were enrolled in the study with a diagnosis of asthma, bronchiolitis, bronchopneumonia, or laringo-tracheo bronchitis. A molecular approach was adopted using specific reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assays detecting 13 respiratory viruses including metapneumovirus (hMPV) and the novel coronaviruses NL63 and HKU1; most amplified fragments were sequenced to confirm positive results and differentiate the strain. Viral pathogens were detected in 97 samples (42.7%), with 4.8% of dual infections identified; respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was detected in 17.2% of children, followed by rhinovirus (9.7%), parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3) (7.5%), and influenza type A (4.4%). Interestingly, more than half the patients (9/17) that have rhinovirus as the sole respiratory pathogen had pneumonia. HMPV infected children below 3 years in two peaks in March and June causing bronchiolitis and pneumonia. One case of NL63 infection is described, documenting NL63 circulation in central Italy. In conclusion, the use of a comprehensive number of PCR-based tests is recommended to define the burden of viral pathogens in patients with respiratory tract infection.
Pierangeli
Alessandra
A
Department of Experimental Medicine, Virology Section, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. alessandra.pierangeli@uniroma1.it
Gentile
Massimo
M
Di Marco
Paola
P
Pagnotti
Paolo
P
Scagnolari
Carolina
C
Trombetti
Simona
S
Lo Russo
Lelia
L
Tromba
Valeria
V
Moretti
Corrado
C
Midulla
Fabio
F
Antonelli
Guido
G
D000208:Acute Disease; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017934:Coronavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections / Q000150:complications; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013045:Species Specificity; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology
D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral