title: Molecular epidemiological analysis of Saffold cardiovirus genotype 3 from upper respiratory infection patients in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Saffold cardiovirus (SAFV) belongs to the Cardiovirus genus of Picornaviridae family, and may be a relevant new human pathogen; Thus far, eleven genotypes have been identified. The SAFV type 3 (SAFV-3) is thought to be the major genotype and is detected relatively frequently in children with acute gastroenteritis and respiratory illness. The epidemiology and pathogenicity of SAFV-3 remain unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the genomic and epidemiologic profiles of SAFV-3 infection in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Virus was detected in respiratory samples from children suffering for URI. SAFV-3 isolates were detected by isolation on cell culture and IF assay. The molecular typing was performed by RT-PCR and was sequenced to compare with reference strains available in the NCBI GeneBank. Serum samples were collected from 2005 to 2013 in Taiwan for seroprevalence investigation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 226 specimens collected from children with URIs, 22 (9.73%) were positive for SAFV-3. The majority of SAFV-3 infections were found in children less than 6 years of age (14 of 22, 63.6%). Genetic analysis of VP1 coding region of Taiwanese isolates shown an 83.2-97.7% difference from other available SAFV-3 sequences in NCBI GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis revealed there is three genetic groups of SAFV-3 co-circulated in Taiwan during the study period. In addition, seroprevalence investigation results indicated that SAFV-3 infection occurs early in life and 43.7-77.8% of children aged between 6 months to 9 years old, had neutralizing antibodies against SAFV-3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SAFV-3 may have circulated in Taiwan for some time and it appears to be one of the etiological agents responsible for URIs in children.
authors: Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Tsuey-Li
authors: TL
authors: Lin
authors: Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Ting-Han
authors: TH
authors: Lin
authors: Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Shu-Chun
authors: SC
authors: Chiu
authors: Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Yuan-Pin
authors: YP
authors: Huang
authors: Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Cheng-Mao
authors: CM
authors: Ho
authors: Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Chia-Chi
authors: CC
authors: Lee
authors: Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: wuhs@cdc.gov.tw.
authors: Ho-Sheng
authors: HS
authors: Wu
authors: Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: jeffy320@cdc.gov.tw.
authors: Jih-Hui
authors: JH
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D017943:Cardiovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018188:Cardiovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Molecular epidemiology; Saffold virus; Taiwan; Upper respiratory infection