title: [Clinical significance and the first identification of human parechoviruses in Hungary].
abstract: Human parechoviruses (HPeV) belonging to the family Picornaviridae are widespread enteric pathogens and are associated with various clinical syndromes in human. At present, 16 HPeV genotypes (HPeV1-16) are known. There is no report on the detection of HPeVs in Central Europe.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the retrospective study was to detect and characterize HPeVs using molecular methods in cell cultures with "enterovirus-like" cytophatic effect (CPE) archived between 1990 and 2004, in two virology laboratories, in Hungary.
  
  
  METHODS
  In Laboratory I, fecal samples from children with symptoms of gastroenteritis under the age of 10 years were cultured as a previous routine diagnostic laboratory protocol for "enterovirus". Cell cultures indicating CPE were archived between 1990 and 2000. In Laboratory II, 2 fecal samples, a liquor and a nasopharyngeal aspirate were re-tested which contained an "enterovirus-like" virus in cell cultures and were positive by HPeV1 neutralization immunosera between 2000 and 2004. Specimens were tested retrospectively for HPeV by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) method using 5'UTR conserved primers. Specific primers were designed to determine the HPeV structural region (VP0-VP3-VP1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  9 of the 66 archived samples (9.1%) from Laboratory I and all the 4 samples from Laboratory II were found to be HPeV-positive. 10 samples were identified as HPeV1, 2 were HPeV4 and 1 could not be determined. 3 HPeV1 clusters were identified in Laboratory I according to the isolation date originated from years 1990/1991, 1992/1995 and 1998. HPeV1 was detected in clinical syndromes: gastroenteritis (in a 24-years-old adult), recurrent stomatitis aphtosa (in a 42-years-old adult), encephalitis and ataxia cerebellaris acuta in infants and children in Laboratory II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first detection of HPeVs in Central Europe. Detection and genetic characterization of HPeV in available historical samples infected with previously unidentifiable agents with "enterovirus-like" cytopathogenic effect may help to understand the clinical importance and spectrum of the infections and the genetic diversity and evolution of these viruses.
authors.affiliation: Állami Népegészségügyi és Tisztiorvosi Szolgálat Dél-dunántúli Regionális Intézete Regionális Virológiai Laboratórium, Gastroenteralis Vírusok Nemzeti Referencia Laboratóriuma, Pécs. reuter.gabor@ddr.antsz.hu
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reuter
authors.forename: Mária
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Új
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pankovics
authors.forename: Tímea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kolozsi
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mihály
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liptai
authors.forename: Ákos
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Boros
mesh_terms: D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000821:virology; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000821:virology; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000821:virology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D030061:Parechovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections / Q000821:virology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral