Two cases of severe obstructive pneumonia associated with an HKU1-like coronavirus.
BACKGROUND
During the last few years a number of previously undescribed viruses, including human metapneumovirus, coronaviruses SARS, NL63 and HKU1, and bocavirus, were identified in nasopharyngeal samples from patients with signs of respiratory infections. These viruses may cause mild to life-threatening infections.


OBJECTIVE
Nasopharyngeal samples from hospitalized pediatric patients with respiratory disease were analysed for the presence of coronaviruses and other well known and newly identified respiratory viruses.


RESULTS
Two clinical cases of a severe obstructive pneumonia, which were associated with the presence of RNA of a novel variant (subtype) of HKU1 coronavirus in the nasopharyngeal aspirates, were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
The detection of a HKU1-like coronavirus in pediatric patients in the current study complement the most recent independent finding of similar or closely related coronaviruses in patients with respiratory diseases in France (Vabret et al. 2006) and Norway (Jonassen et al., see accompanying manuscript). These observations indicate a wide dissemination of HKU1-like coronaviruses in Europe.
Kupfer
B
B
Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Simon
A
A
Jonassen
C M
CM
Viazov
S
S
Ditt
V
V
Tillmann
R-L
RL
Müller
A
A
Matz
B
B
Schildgen
O
O
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017934:Coronavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D009241:Ipratropium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010802:Phylogeny; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D013256:Steroids; D019819:Budesonide; D009241:Ipratropium; D010100:Oxygen