[Evaluation of Seeplex RV detection kit for detecting rhinovirus, human metapneumovirus, and coronavirus].
BACKGROUND
Direct antigen test (DAT) and culture are primary tests to diagnose infections by respiratory viruses, but are mainly available for the traditional viral pathogens such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus, parainfluenza virus (PIV), and adenovirus in clinical laboratories. The objective of this study was to evaluate a multiplex reverse transcriptase-PCR method using Seeplex RV Detection kit (Seegene, Korea) for the detection of rhinovirus, coronavirus, and human metapneumovirus (hMPV).


METHODS
From January to May 2007, nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) from pediatric patients negative for culture and DAT of traditional viral pathogens were tested with Seeplex. All the amplicons were directly sequenced and homology of the sequences was searched in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. Patients' medical records were reviewed for clinical and demographic features.


RESULTS
Forty-seven (26.4%) of 178 NPAs were positive: 18 rhinovirus, 15 hMPV, 4 RSV A, 3 coronavirus OC43, 3 influenza virus A, 2 adenovirus, 1 coronavirus NL63, and 1 RSV B. Based on maximum identity, each of the sequences indicating rhinovirus, hMPV, and coronavirus OC43 matched to the corresponding viruses with homology of 94-98%, 96-99%, and 98-100%, respectively. Seeplex positive patients were 0-11 yr old with a male:female ratio of 1.5:1. Clinical diagnoses included 9 pneumonia, 6 bronchiolitis, 2 cold, 1 asthma exacerbation for rhinovirus; 10 pneumonia, 4 bronchiolitis, and 1 clinical sepsis for hPMV; and 1 pneumonia, 2 croup, and 1 cold for coronavirus.


CONCLUSIONS
Multiplex reverse transcriptase-PCR method using Seeplex RV Detection kit is a reliable test to detect rhinovirus, hMPV, and coronavirus. It may improve the diagnostic sensitivity for RSV, influenza virus, PIV, and adenovirus.
Sung
Heungsup
H
Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Park
Sook Ja
SJ
Woo
Young Dae
YD
Choi
Byung Hoo
BH
Kim
Mi Na
MN
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017934:Coronavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D028941:Coronavirus 229E, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D028962:Coronavirus OC43, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic