title: Human coronaviruses associated with upper respiratory tract infections in three rural areas of Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, especially in Africa. This study sought to determine whether human coronaviruses (HCoVs) are associated with upper respiratory tract infections among older children and adults in Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a case control study among older children and adults in three rural areas of Ghana using asymptomatic subjects as controls. Nasal/Nasopharyngeal swabs were tested for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), HCoV-22E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-HKU1 using Reverse Transcriptase Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 1,213 subjects recruited, 150 (12.4%) were positive for one or more viruses. Of these, single virus detections occurred in 146 subjects (12.0%) and multiple detections occurred in 4 (0.3%). Compared with control subjects, infections with HCoV-229E (OR = 5.15, 95%CI = 2.24-11.78), HCoV-OC43 (OR = 6.16, 95%CI = 1.77-21.65) and combine HCoVs (OR = 2.36, 95%CI = 1.5 = 3.72) were associated with upper respiratory tract infections. HCoVs were found to be seasonally dependent with significant detections in the harmattan season (mainly HCoV-229E) and wet season (mainly HCoV-NL63). A comparison of the obtained sequences resulted in no differences to sequences already published in GenBank.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCoVs could play significant role in causing upper respiratory tract infections among adults and older children in rural areas of Ghana.
authors: Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Owusu
authors: Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors: Augustina
authors: A
authors: Annan
authors: Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany.
authors: Victor Max
authors: VM
authors: Corman
authors: Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Larbi
authors: Institute of Renewable and Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors: Priscilla
authors: P
authors: Anti
authors: Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany.
authors: Jan Felix
authors: JF
authors: Drexler
authors: Institute of Renewable and Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors: Olivia
authors: O
authors: Agbenyega
authors: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors: Yaw
authors: Y
authors: Adu-Sarkodie
authors: Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Drosten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D058957:Coronavirus NL63, Human / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012621:Seasons; D055815:Young Adult