The Prevalence of Human Bocavirus, Human Coronavirus-NL63, Human Metapneumovirus, Human Polyomavirus KI and WU in Respiratory Tract Infections in Kuwait.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of human coronavirus (HCoV)-NL63, human metapneumovirus (hMPV), human bocavirus (Boca), human polyomavirus KI (KIV) and human polyomavirus WU (WUV) in respiratory tract infections (RTI) in Kuwait.


METHODS
Respiratory samples from 735 hospitalized patients with RTI from September 2010 to April 2013 were evaluated for the presence of HCoV-NL63, hMPV, Boca, KIV and WUV using molecular assays, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse-transcription PCR.


RESULTS
Of the 735 patients, 285 (38.8%) were diagnosed with viral RTI. The distribution of respiratory viruses was hMPV: 15 (5.3%), Boca: 14 (4.9%), WUV: 10 (3.5%) and KIV: 4 (1.4%). HCoV-NL63 was not detected in any of the samples.


CONCLUSIONS
These newly discovered viruses were associated with the development of RTI in Kuwait. The rapid identification of these viral infections could aid in the control of nosocomial transmission, reduce the use of antibiotics and improve treatment and management strategies.
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait.
Sahar
S
Essa
Abdullah
A
Owayed
Haya
H
Altawalah
Mousa
M
Khadadah
Nasser
N
Behbehani
Widad
W
Al-Nakib
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D058957:Coronavirus NL63, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D056661:Human bocavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult