title: Molecular detection of human parechovirus type 1 in stool samples from children with diarrhea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human parechovirus type 1 (HPeV-1) appears to be associated with gastrointestinal and respiratory infections, and occasionally with central nervous system symptoms. Since there is no accurate information about the incidence and epidemiology of HPeV-1 in Iran, this study was designed to describe the frequency of HPeV-1 in stool samples from children under 4 years of age with gastroenteritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  RNA was isolated from stool suspensions and cDNA was prepared and amplified using a specific nested reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). We also compared this RT-PCR method with a cell culture procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 472 samples, 112 (23.7%) were HPeV-1-positive. The incidence and prevalence of this virus was highest in children under 1 year old with diarrhea (p=0.036), and was higher in the spring and autumn than in summer and winter (p<0.001). More males than females were HPeV-1-positive (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first systematic study of the incidence and epidemiology of HPeV-1 among children with acute gastroenteritis in Iran. The results revealed that RT-PCR is a more practical, sensitive, and rapid technique for the detection of HPeV-1 directly from clinical samples than cell culture, which makes this a valuable method for epidemiology. Also, the rapid detection of virus can decrease both the unnecessary use of antibiotics and costs in clinical practice.
authors: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 14155-6447, Tehran, Iran. fghazi@sina.tums.ac.ir
authors: Farideh
authors: F
authors: Ghazi
authors: Zohreh
authors: Z
authors: Ataei
authors: Bahareh
authors: B
authors: Dabirmanesh
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D030061:Parechovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012621:Seasons; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral