title: Infections with human coronaviruses NL63 and OC43 among hospitalised and outpatient individuals in São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: The incidence and clinical features of human coronaviruses (HCoVs) among Brazilian patients with respiratory illness are not well known. We investigated the prevalence of HCoVs among Brazilian outpatients and hospitalised patients with respiratory illnesses during 2009 and 2010. To identify the HCoVs, pancoronavirus and species-specific reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assays were performed. Five of 394 samples were positive for HCoVs (1.2%): 1/182 (0.5%) outpatients and 4/212 (1.8%) hospitalised patients. The OC43 and NL63 HCoVs were identified. Two patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. Underlying chronic disease was reported in cases and one diabetic adult died. HCoVs can cause lower respiratory infections and hospitalisation. Patients with pre-existing conditions and respiratory infections should be evaluated for HCoV infections.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Virologia Clínica, Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. taticabeca@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Tatiane Karen
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Cabeça
authors.forename: Emerson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carraro
authors.forename: Aripuanã
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Celso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Granato
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bellei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003139:Common Cold / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D058957:Coronavirus NL63, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D028962:Coronavirus OC43, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D015995:Prevalence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction