title: Molecular epidemiology of human rhinovirus C in patients with acute respiratory tract infections in Osaka City, Japan.
abstract: Human rhinovirus (HRV) is a causative agent of acute respiratory tract infection  (ARTI). In 2007, a novel HRV group, HRV-C, was discovered. This study, which assessed whether HRV-C  is epidemic among patients with ARTI, was aimed at analyzing the seasonal prevalence of HRV-C in  Osaka City, Japan. Gene amplification tests were performed to detect 10 respiratory viruses in 336  specimens collected during November 2008-October 2009. In total, 364 viruses were detected in 271  specimens. The most commonly detected virus was HRV (n = 84). For HRV-positive specimens, we  conducted phylogenetic analyses using the VP4/VP2 gene region to identify the HRV species (HRV-C,  30; HRV-A, 54). Both the number and rate of HRV-C detection were highest in December. The highest  numbers and the highest rate of HRV-A detection were obtained in April and June and in April,  respectively. Statistical analysis showed that the most probable prevalent period of HRV-C was  between September and March, and that of HRV-A was between March and November. These results  suggest that HRV-C is mainly epidemic during autumn and early spring; this seasonal prevalence was  different from that of HRV-A. Moreover, the HRV-C Osaka strains were scattered in many genetic  clusters along with previously reported strains from different parts of the world. This result also  emphasizes the worldwide circulation of HRV-C.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Osaka City Institute of Public Health and Environmental Sciences, Osaka, Japan. a-kaida＠city.osaka.lg.jp
authors: Atsushi
authors: A
authors: Kaida
authors: Hideyuki
authors: H
authors: Kubo
authors: Kohichi
authors: K
authors: Takakura
authors: Masao
authors: M
authors: Togawa
authors: Masashi
authors: M
authors: Shiomi
authors: Urara
authors: U
authors: Kohdera
authors: Nobuhiro
authors: N
authors: Iritani
mesh_terms: D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012621:Seasons; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral