Human respiratory syncytial virus genomic and antigenic variants isolated in two hospitals during one epidemic, in Santiago, Chile.
BACKGROUND
Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is a major cause of severe lower respiratory tract infection (LRI) in children. Distinct variants of the viruses have been described.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to compare the antigenic and genetic variability of HRSV strains recovered from infants admitted to two hospitals during one epidemic in a big city.


METHODS
We analyzed nasopharyngeal aspirates from 201 infants admitted for LRI to two hospitals during 2002 in Santiago, Chile. The analyses were carried out using a panel of monoclonal antibodies against G glycoprotein epitopes (EIA) and RFLP for N and G genes.


RESULTS
No differences in HRSV groups A/B and in N patterns distribution were observed among both hospitals. On the contrary, antigenic and genetic G patterns displayed a wide diversity of strains circulating during one epidemic, in one big city.


CONCLUSIONS
RSV variability assessment depended rather on the tool used for analysis than on the geographical location.
Luchsinger
Vivian
V
Programa de Virología, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago, Chile. vluchsin@med.uchile.cl
Noy
Andrea Elgueta
AE
Avendaño
Luis F
LF
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012703:Serotyping
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral