COVID-19, rinovirus y asma... ¿Una mala combinación? / COVID-19, rhinovirus and asthma... a bad conmbination?

La pandemia de COVID-19 enfrentó a la humanidad a un gran desafío y hemos ido aprendiendo a medida que avanzó. La aparición de este virus, su comportamiento por si solo y en conjunto con los otros virus nos mantuvo alerta.. Los pacientes pediátricos asmáticos, a pesar de lo que se pensó en un principio, son menos afectados y hacen un cuadro clínico más leve. Objetivo: presentar un caso clínico de un paciente asmático, con una evolución tortuosa por co-infección SARS-CoV-2 y Rinovirus (RV) y revisión de la litaratura. Se trata de un escolar de 6 años, asmático con mal control, con 2 dosis de vacuna anti SARS-CoV-2, que presento un estado asmático por rinovirus y posterior evolución con neumonía grave por SARS-CoV-2, requiriendo ventilación mecánica invasiva y estadía en UCI Pediátrica. Es probable que la gravedad del caso presentado se deba al mal control del asma antes de la infección, ya que se ha visto que los niños asmáticos alérgicos presentan un factor protector para infección grave por SARS-CoV-2, lo cual esta supeditado a un buen control de su enfermedad basal.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented a great challenge and we have been learning as it has progressed. The appearance of this virus, its behavior by itself and in conjunction with the other viruses kept us alert. Pediatric asthmatic patients, despite what was initially thought, are less affected and present a milder clinical picture. Objective: to present a clinical case of an asthmatic patient, with a tortuous evolution due to SARS-CoV-2 and Rhinovirus (RV) co-infection and a literature review. This is a 6-year-old schoolboy, asthmatic with poor control, with 2 doses of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, who presents asthmatic status due to rhinovirus and subsequent evolution with severe pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2, requiring invasive mechanical ventilation and stay in Pediatric ICU. It is likely that the severity of the case presented is due to poor asthma control before infection, since it has been seen that allergic asthmatic children present a protective factor for severe infection by SARS-CoV-2, which is subject to good control of his basal disease.

Expression of interferon-λ1 in respiratory epithelial cells in children with human rhinovirus infection / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the expression of interferon-λ1 (IFN-λ1) in respiratory epithelial cells in children with human rhinovirus (HRV) infection.@*METHODS@#Sputum samples and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from the children who were hospitalized due to acute respiratory infection from February to October, 2017. Bacterial culture was performed, and nucleic acid test was performed for 11 respiratory pathogens. A total of 90 children with positive HRV alone were enrolled as the HRV infection group, and 95 children with positive respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) alone were enrolled as the RSV infection group. A total of 50 healthy children who underwent outpatient physical examination during the same period of time and had negative results for all pathogen tests were enrolled as the healthy control group. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from all groups, and quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure viral load and the mRNA expression of IFN-λ1.@*RESULTS@#In the HRV infection group, there was no significant difference in the mRNA expression of IFN-λ1 between boys and girls and across all age groups (P>0.05). In the HRV infection group, there was no correlation between the mRNA expression of IFN-λ1 and HRV load (P>0.05). The mRNA expression of IFN-λ1 in the HRV infection group was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (P<0.05), but significantly lower than that in the RSV infection group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#HRV can induce the expression of IFN-λ1 in respiratory epithelial cells, suggesting that IFN-λ1 may play an important role in anti-HRV infection in children.

Virus más frecuentemente aislados en la exacerbación de asma y su correlación con nivelesde eosinófilos e inmunoglobulina E sérica total / Most commonly isolated viruses in asthma exacerbation and their correlation with eosinophil and total serum immunoglobulin E levels

Antecedentes. Las exacerbaciones de asma continúan siendo una causa de hospitalización en el Servicio de Urgencias. Los desencadenantesson alérgenos e infecciones, principalmente, de tipo viral. El objetivo fue determinar la relación entre los virus detectados durante la exacerbación asmática y los niveles de eosinófilos e inmunoglobulina E (IgE) sérica en pacientes pediátricos. Población y métodos. Estudio transversal analítico. Se incluyeron niños de cinco a quince años atendidos en Urgencias de Pediatría con exacerbación de asma, en el período de marzo de 2013 a febrero de 2016. Se obtuvo ácido ribonucleico viral en el aspirado nasofaríngeo con el kit CLART PneumoVir. Se cuantificaron los eosinófilos en la sangre periférica y los niveles de IgE sérica total. Se consideró eosinofilia un conteo ≥ 0,4 x 103/mm3 e IgE elevada, ≥ 350 UI/L. Se realizó la correlación de Pearson. Se definió significancia con valor de p ≤ 0,05.Resultados. De 211 niños con exacerbación de asma, en el 20%, se aisló un virus. Los virus aislados más frecuentemente fueron el rinovirus, el enterovirus y el virus sincitial respiratorio. Se encontró una correlación entre los niveles de eosinófilos e IgE sérica total en los niños con exacerbación de asma y rinovirus de 0,89, con una p= 0,0001.Conclusiones. Las infecciones por rinovirus, enterovirus y virus sincitial respiratorio son más frecuentes en las exacerbaciones de asma en menores de 15 años. Se observó una correlación entre los niveles de eosinófilos e IgE en presencia de rinovirus.

Background. Asthma exacerbations are still a cause of hospitalization at the Emergency Department. The triggers of asthma exacerbations include allergens and infections ­mostly viral­. The objective of this study was to establish the relationship between viruses detected during an asthma exacerbation and eosinophil and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels in pediatric patients. Population and methods. Cross-sectional. analytical study. Children aged 5-15 years seen at the Pediatric Emergency Department with an asthma exacerbation in the period between March 2013 and February 2016 were included. Viral ribonucleic acid was extracted from nasopharyngeal aspirates using the CLART Pneumo Vir kit. Eosinophil levels were measured in peripheral blood and total IgE levels, in serum. Eosinophilia was defined as a count ≥ 0.4 x 103/mm3 and high IgE. as a level ≥ 350 IU/L. The Pearson's correlation was carried out. A value of p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.Results. Out of 211 children with asthma exacerbation, a virus was isolated in 20%. The most commonly isolated viruses were rhinovirus. enterovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus. A correlation of 0.89 was established between eosinophil and total serum IgE levels in children with asthma exacerbation and rhinovirus, with a p value of 0.0001. Conclusions. Rhinovirus, enterovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus were the most common viruses in asthma exacerbations in children younger than 15 years. A correlation was established between eosinophil and IgE levels in the presence of rhinovirus.

Impact and seasonality of human rhinovirus infection in hospitalized patients for two consecutive years / Impacto e sazonalidade da infecção por rinovírus humano em pacientes internados por dois anos consecutivos

Abstract Objectives: To report epidemiological features, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of human rhinovirus (HRV) infections in comparison with other community acquired respiratory virus (CRV) infections in patients hospitalized for two consecutive years. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory data of patients hospitalized with acute respiratory syndrome in a tertiary care hospital from 2012 to 2013 were reviewed. Results: HRV was the most common CRV observed (36%, 162/444) and was present in the majority of viral co-detections (69%, 88/128), mainly in association with human enterovirus (45%). Most HRV-infected patients were younger than 2 years (57%). Overall, patients infected with HRV had a lower frequency of severe acute respiratory infection than those infected with other CRVs (60% and 84%, respectively, p = 0.006), but had more comorbidities (40% and 27%, respectively; p = 0.043). However, in the adjusted analysis this association was not significant. The mortality rate within the HRV group was 3%. Detection of HRV was more prevalent during autumn and winter, with a moderately negative correlation between viral infection frequency and temperature (r = −0.636, p < 0.001) but no correlation with rainfall (r = −0.036, p = 0.866). Conclusion: HRV is usually detected in hospitalized children with respiratory infections and is often present in viral co-detections. Comorbidities are closely associated with HRV infections. These infections show seasonal variation, with predominance during colder seasons.

Resumo Objetivos: Relatar as características epidemiológicas, as características clínicas e os resultados das infecções por rinovírus humano (RVH) em comparação a outras infecções por vírus respiratórios adquiridos na comunidade (VRCs) em pacientes internados por dois anos consecutivos. Métodos: Este foi um estudo transversal. Foram revisados os dados clínicos, epidemiológicos e laboratoriais de pacientes internados com síndrome respiratória aguda em um hospital terciário de 2012 a 2013. Resultados: O RVH foi o VRC mais comum observado (36%, 162/444) e esteve presente na maior parte das codetecções virais (69%, 88/128), principalmente em associação ao enterovírus humano (45%). A maioria dos pacientes infectados por RVH possuía menos de 2 anos (57%). De modo geral, os pacientes com RVH apresentaram uma menor frequência de infecção respiratória aguda grave que os pacientes infectados por outros VRCs (60% e 84%, respectivamente, p = 0,006), porém mais comorbidades (40% e 27%, respectivamente; p = 0,043). Contudo, em uma análise ajustada, essa associação não foi significativa. A taxa de mortalidade no grupo RVH foi 3%. A detecção de RVH foi mais prevalente durante o outono e inverno, com uma correlação negativa moderada entre a frequência de infecção viral e a temperatura (r = -0,636, p < 0,001), porém nenhuma correlação com a precipitação (r = −0,036, p = 0,866). Conclusão: O RVH é normalmente detectado em crianças internadas com infecções respiratórias e normalmente está presente em codetecções virais. As comorbidades estão estreitamente associadas a infecções por RVH. Essas infecçõesmostram variação sazonal, com predominância durante as estações mais frias.

Parechovirus como agente etiológico de meningitis y/o sepsis viral en lactantes / Parechovirus as etiologic agent of meningitis and/or sepsis like illness in infants

Introduction: Human parechovirus (HPeV) belongs to the Picornaviridae family and has been described in viral meningoencephalitis and sepsis like illness in infants. Until now, 16 genotypes have been recognized, the most common are HPEV 1, 2 and 3; type 3 is most severe. Aims: To estimate the frequency of HPEV etiology in viral meningoencephalitis and sepsis in infants and characterize clinical and molecular aspects of infection. Methods: Between October 2013 and March 2015 we collected CSF samples, plasma, nasopharyngeal swabs and/or stools of patients younger than two years with suspected sepsis and/or viral meningitis. Samples were obtained from laboratory storage sites and from hospitalized patients. HPeV was diagnosed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay against the 5'UTR region. Positive samples were genotyped by sequencing a 304pb segment in VP3/VP1 overlapping region obtained with a nested PCR. Results: Overall HPeV detection rate was 18,6% (11/59 patients), distributed in 8.7% (4/46) laboratory's samples and 53.8% (7/13) of samples from hospitalized patients; mean age was 49 days (SD?). Most common clinical signs were irritability (%), inappetance and fever (algo mas? Magnitude? %). All six samples genotyped were HPeV 3. Conclusions: HPeV should be considered as a relatively significant etiologic agent of viral meningoencephalitis and sepsis in infants.

Introducción: Parechovirus humano (HPeV) pertenece a la familia Picornaviridae; ha sido descrito en sepsis viral y meningoencefalitis en niños de dos años o menos (lactantes). Se conocen 16 genotipos, siendo los más frecuentes HPeV 1, 2 y 3; el más grave es el tipo 3. Objetivos: Estimar la frecuencia de HPeV como agente causal de meningoencefalitis o sepsis viral en lactantes; caracterizar clínica y molecularmente los HPeV encontrados. Material y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo. Se utilizaron muestras de LCR, plasma, hisopado nasofaríngeo y/o deposiciones de lactantes con sospecha de sepsis y/o meningoencefalitis viral entre octubre 2013 y marzo 2015. Se estudiaron muestras almacenadas en laboratorio y de pacientes hospitalizados. Como diagnóstico, se realizó RPC-TR en tiempo real para HPeV dirigido a sector 5'UTR. Para la caracterización molecular, se secuenció un sector de 304 pb en unión VP3/VP1 mediante una RPC-TR anidada. Resultados: Se reclutó un total de 59 pacientes con frecuencia de HPeV de 18,6% (11/59), correspondientes a 8,7% (4/46) en muestras de colección y 53,8% (7/13) en hospitalizados, edad promedio 49 días. En la presentación clínica destacó la irritabilidad, el rechazo alimentario y la fiebre. Seis casos fueron genotipificados, todos correspondieron al tipo HPeV 3. Conclusiones: HPeV debe ser considerado como agente causal en sepsis y/o meningoencefalitis en lactantes.

Prevalence of rhinovirus in wheezing children: a comparison with respiratory syncytial virus wheezing

Abstract Objective To explore the distribution and clinical manifestations of rhinovirus infection in wheezing children, and compare the clinical differences between rhinovirus- and respiratory syncytial virus-induced wheezing. Materials and methods This prospective cohort study was carried out in Children's Hospital of Soochow University from Dec 2012 to Nov 2014. We enrolled consecutive hospitalized children <60 months of age presented with wheezing. Clinical data including cough, fever, dyspnea, crackles were recorded by pediatricians on the first day of admission. Meanwhile, nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained to test for respiratory viruses, by using polymerase chain reaction method for rhinovirus, human bocavirus, and human metapneumovirus, and direct immunofluorescence assay to test for respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus types 1–3, and influenza virus types A and B. Results Rhinovirus was a main causative agent isolated in 14.7% of the hospitalized wheezing children in Suzhou, China, being second to respiratory syncytial virus (21.0%). Different from respiratory syncytial virus infection, which peaked in winter months, rhinovirus could be detected all year round, peaked between July and September, and in November. Children with rhinovirus infection were older and presented with more often allergic sensitizations, blood eosinophilia, and leukocytosis than those of respiratory syncytial virus infection. Logistic regression analysis revealed that rhinovirus-infected children experienced earlier wheezing more often than respiratory syncytial virus children (odds ratio, 3.441; 95% confidence interval, 1.187–9.979; p = 0.023). Conclusion Rhinovirus was a main viral pathogen in wheezing children, especially in summer time. Rhinovirus-induced wheezing was different from respiratory syncytial virus, apart from seasonal epidemics; these two groups differed with regard to age, allergic sensitizations, laboratory test, and history of wheezing episodes.

Association of Different Human Rhinovirus Species with Asthma in Children: A Preliminary Study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are divided into three genetic species: HRV-A, HRV-B, and HRV-C. The association of different HRV species with asthma in children in China has not yet been evaluated. This preliminary study aimed to assess the associations between different HRV species, particularly HRV-C, and asthma in young children in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 702 nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained from 155 children with asthma (asthma group), 461 children with acute respiratory infection (ARI) without asthma (nonasthma ARI group), and 86 children from the control group. Semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect HRVs, and PCR products were sequenced for species identification. Epidemiological characteristics of HRV-positive cases were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HRVs were the most common pathogen (15.4%; 108/702) in the patients in this study. The prevalence of HRV was significantly different (F = 20.633, P = 0.000) between the asthma (25.8%) and nonasthma ARI groups (11.1%). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that in the 108 cases positive for HRVs, 41 were identified as HRV-A, 8 as HRV-B, and 56 as HRV-C. Comparing the asthma with the nonasthma ARI group, Spearman's rank correlation analysis revealed an association between HRV-A (P < 0.05) and C (P < 0.01) and asthma, confirmed by regression analysis, with odds ratios of 2.2 (HRV-A) and 4.2 (HRV-C).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our data revealed a high prevalence of HRVs in children in China, regardless of clinical status. HRV-C was the dominant species and may be one of the key factors in the association of HRVs with asthma.</p>

Molecular survey of porcine teschovirus, porcine sapelovirus, and enterovirus G in captive wild boars (Sus scrofa scrofa) of Paraná state, Brazil / Estudo molecular de teschovírus suíno, sapelovírus suíno e enterovírus G em javalis (Sus scrofa scrofa) de cativeiro no Paraná

Porcine teschovirus (PTV), porcine sapelovirus (PSV), and enterovirus G (EV-G) are infectious agents specific to pig host species that are endemically spread worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the natural infection by these porcine enteric picornaviruses in wild boars (Sus scrofa scrofa) of Paraná state, Brazil, and to evaluate peccaries (Pecari tajacu and Tayassu pecari) as alternative host species for these viruses. Fecal samples (n=36) from asymptomatic wild boars (n=22) with ages ranging from 2 to 7 months old (young, n=14) and 2 to 4 years old (adult, n=8) and from peccaries (6 to 8 months old, n=14) were collected from a farm and a zoo, respectively, both located in Paraná state. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nested-PCR (n-PCR) assays targeting the 5'non-translated region of the virus genome were used for screening the viruses. Porcine enteric picornaviruses were detected in 12 out of the 22 wild boar fecal samples. According to each of the viruses, EV-G was most frequently (11/22, 50%) detected, followed by PTV (10/22, 45.5%) and PSV (4/22, 18.2%). Regarding the age groups, young wild boars were more frequently (9/14, 64.3%) infected with PTV, PSV, and EV-G than adult animals (3/8, 37.4%). One n-PCR amplified product for each of the viruses was submitted to sequencing analysis and the nucleotide sequences were compared with the related viruses, which showed similarities varying from 97.7% to 100% for PTV, 92.4% to 96.2% for PSV, and 87.1% to 100% for EV-G. Peccaries tested negative for the viruses and in this study they did not represent infection reservoirs. This study is the first to report the molecular detection of PTV, PSV, and EV-G from captive wild boars in a South American country and the first to screen peccaries as alternative host species for porcine enteric picornavirus.

Teschovírus suíno (PTV), sapelovírus suíno (PSV) e enterovírus G(EV-G) são agentes infecciosos específicos da espécie suína que estão endemicamente disseminados em todo o mundo. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a infecção natural por estes picornavírus entéricos suínos em javalis (Sus scrofa scrofa) do estado do Paraná, Brasil e avaliar pecaris (Pecari tajacu e Tayassu pecari) como hospedeiros alternativos para estes vírus. Amostras fecais (n=36) de javalis assintomáticos (n=22) com idades de 2 a 7 meses (jovens, n=14) e 2 a 4 anos (adultos, n=8) e de pecaris (6 a 8 meses de idade, n=14) foram coletadas em um cativeiro e zoológico, respectivamente, ambos localizados no estado do Paraná. A transcrição reversa seguida por reações da polimerase em cadeia (RT-PCR) e nested-PCR com alvo na região 5'-não traduzida do genoma viral foram utilizadas para a identificação dos vírus. Picornavírus entéricos suínos foram detectados em 12 das 22 amostras fecais de javalis. De acordo com cada um dos vírus, EV-G foi mais frequentemente (11/22, 50%) detectado, seguido pelo PTV (10/22; 45,5%) e PSV (4/22; 18,2%). Considerando os grupos de idade, javalis jovens foram mais frequentemente (9/14; 64,3%) infectados com PTV, PSV e EV-G do que os javalis adultos (3/8; 37,4%). Um produto amplificado na nested-PCR para cada um dos vírus foi submetido à análise de sequenciamento e as sequências de nucleotídeos foram comparadas com vírus relacionados, o que mostrou que as similaridades variaram entre 97,7% a 100% para o PTV, 92,4% a 96,2% para o PSV e 87,1% a 100% para o EV-G. Os pecaris foram negativos para as viroses investigadas e neste estudo não se apresentaram como hospedeiros alternativos para as infecções. Este estudo é o primeiro a relatar a detecção molecular de PTV, PSV e EV-G em javalis de cativeiro de um país da América Latina e o primeiro a avaliar pecaris como espécie hospedeira alternativa para picornavírus entéricos suínos.

Clinical relevance of rhinovirus infections among adult hospitalized patients

Human rhinovirus (HRV) is an emerging viral pathogen. Aim: To characterize a group of patients admitted due to infection by this agent in a general hospital in Chile. Methods: Cases were identified by RT-PCR for 1 year through active surveillance of patients admitted with severe respiratory illness. Diagnosis was not available during hospitalization. Thirty-two cases were identified, 90% were ≥60 years old or had co-morbid conditions. Human rhinovirus-related admissions represented 23.7% of hospitalization due to severe acute respiratory infections among adults and ranked second to influenza (37.8%). Patients presented with pneumonia (68.8%), decompensated chronic lung conditions (21.9%), heart failure or influenza-like illness (6.3% each). Admission to intensive or intermediate care units was required by 31.2% and in-hospital mortality reached 12.5%. A CURB-65 score ≥3 was significantly associated to in-hospital mortality (p < 0.05). Most patients received antibiotics (90%). Conclusions: Human rhinovirus infections in elderly patients with co-morbid conditions are associated with hospitalizations, requiring critical or semi-critical antibiotics use. A high CURB-65 score was associated to in-hospital mortality. .

Development and evaluation of an inactivated bivalent vaccine against duck viral hepatitis / 生物工程学报

The rapid mutation and widely spread of duck hepatitis A virus (DHAV) lead to the vast economic loss of the duck industry. To prepare and evaluate bivalent inactivated vaccine laboratory products of DHAV, 6 strains were screened from 201 DHAV-1 strains and 38 DHAV-3 strains by using serotype epidemiological analysis in most of the duck factory. Vaccine candidate strains were selected by ELD50 and LD50 tests in the 6 strains. Continuously passaged, the 5th passaged duck embryos bodies grinding fluid was selected as vaccine virus seeds. The virus seeds were treated with formaldehyde and water in oil in water (W/O/W) emulsions, making into three batches of two bivalent inactivated vaccine laboratory products. The safety test, antibody neutralization test, challenged protection and cross immune protection experiment suggested that the vaccines possessed good safety, and neutralizing antibodies were detected at 7th day and the challenged protection rate reached 90% to 100% at the 14th and 21st day. Moreover, immune duration of ducklings lasted more than five weeks. However, cross-immunity protection experiments with DHAV-SH and DHAV-FS only had 20%-30%. The two bivalent inactivated vaccine laboratory products of duck viral hepatitis were effective and reliable, providing a new method as well as a new product for DHAV prevention and control.

Effect of human rhinovirus infection in pediatric patients with influenza-like illness on the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Some research groups have hypothesized that human rhinoviruses (HRVs) delayed the circulation of the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus (A(H1N1)pdm09) at the beginning of Autumn 2009 in France. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between HRV and A(H1N1)pdm09 in pediatric patients with influenza-like illness in Beijing, China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A systematic analysis to detect A(H1N1)pdm09 and seasonal influenza A virus (FLU A) was performed on 4 349 clinical samples from pediatric patients with influenza-like illness during the period June 1, 2009 to February 28, 2010, while a one-step real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) assay was used to detect HRV in 1 146 clinical specimens selected from those 4 349 specimens.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>During the survey period, only one wave of A(H1N1)pdm09 was observed. The percentage of positive cases for A(H1N1)pdm09 increased sharply in September with a peak in November 2009 and then declined in February 2010. Data on the monthly distribution of HRVs indicated that more HRV-positive samples were detected in September (2.2%) and October (3.3%), revealing that the peak of HRV infection in 2009 was similar to that of other years. Among the 1 146 specimens examined for HRVs, 21 (1.8%) were HRV-positive, which was significantly lower than that reported previously in Beijing (15.4% to 19.2%) (P < 0.01). Overall, 6 samples were positive for both A(H1N1)pdm09 and HRV, which represented a positive relative frequency of 1.60% and 2.08% HRV, considering the A(H1N1)pdm09-positive and -negative specimens, respectively. The odds ratio was 0.87 (95% CI 0.32; 2.44, P = 0.80).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>HRVs and A (H1N1)pdm09 co-circulated in this Chinese population during September and October 2009, and the HRV epidemic in 2009 did not affect A(H1N1)pdm09 infection rates in Beijing, China as suggested by other studies. However, the presence of A(H1N1)pdm09 might explain the unexpected reduction in the percentage of HRV positive cases during the period studied.</p>

Structure and function of 3'- untranslated region in picornavirus / 病毒学报

Both sides of the picornavirus genome have 5'-untranslated region (5'UTR) and 3'- untranslated region (3'UTR). This study demontrated that both the 5'-and 3'-UTR can form complex structures, such as stem-loop, clover and pseudoknot structure, These structures play an important role in the regulaton of the replication and translation of the viruses. This article reviewed the progress of research on the structure and function of picornavirus' 3'-UTR over recent years.

Human parechovirus associated sepsis and central nervous system infections in hospitalized children / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Human parechovirus (HPeV) is a single-stranded, positive sense RNA virus in the Parechovirus genus within the large family of Picornaviridae. As a possible new pathogen of neonatal sepsis, meningoencephalitis and other infections in young children, HPeV gets more and more attention. This study aimed to better understand the association of HPeV with central nervous system (CNS) infectious diseases and sepsis among hospitalized children in Beijing.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A total of 577 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were retrospectively collected from 557 children suspected of CNS infections in 2012. Three hundred and fifty-one of them were male and 206 were female. HPeV was screened by reverse transcription-nested PCR (RT-nPCR) with the universal primers which target the highly conserved 5'UTR. The positive samples were genotyped by amplifying and sequencing for the VP3/VP1 junction region. The sequences were compared with the HPeV sequences from GenBank and performed phylogenetic analysis.Some samples other than CSF from HPeV positive children, including serum, nasopharyngeal aspirate and stool, were collected and carried out screening for HPeV.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>With the RT-nPCR by universal primers, HPeVs were detected in 18 out of 577 CSF samples obtained from 18 children with a positive rate of 3.1%. The ratio of male and female was 2: 1. There were no statistically significant differences on infection rate between boys (12/351, 3.4%) and girls (6/206, 2.9%). All of 18 positive CSF samples were negative for enterovirus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), and herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV).HPeVs from 10 positive CSF samples were genotyped successfully, consisting of 7 HPeV3 and 3 HPeV1. In addition, 2 of 8 serum samples were positive for HPeV3 and 1 of 2 stool samples were positive for HPeV 1. HPeVs were identified in CSF from children aged from 15 days to 14 years, in which 7 cases were infants younger than 3 months and 5 cases were infants from 3 months to one year. Three children older than the age of 9 years (9, 13 and 14 years) were positive for HPeV. Most of the children (6/8) infected with HPeV3 were younger than 3 months and were diagnosed as sepsis, while the rest of HPeV3 positive children were diagnosed as meningitis and bronchopneumonia. HPeV3 infection clustered in August, while HPeV1 in January.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HPeVs were associated with CNS infections and sepsis in hospitalized children in Beijing, especially in children younger than one year.HPeV3 was the predominant type identified in CSF.</p>

Identificación de virus respiratorios en pacientes pediátricos con infecciones respiratorias en el Hospital Carlos Van Buren, Valparaíso: época estival 2011-2012 / Identification of respiratory viruses in pediatric patients with respiratory tract infections from Carlos Van Buren Hospital, Valparaíso: 2011-2012 summer season

INTRODUCCIÓN: En pediatría, las infecciones respiratorias agudas (IRA) constituyen globalmente una importante causa de morbimortalidad. Los principales agentes etiológicos son los virus respiratorio sincicial, parainfluenza (PIV), influenza y adenovirus. Actualmente existen pruebas de diagnóstico molecular que permiten identificar agentes no convencionales. En este estudio se propuso estudiar la presencia de: PIV, coronavirus (COV), rinovirus (RV) y enterovirus humano (EV), utilizando reacción en cadena de polimerasa previa transcriptasa reversa (RCP-TR) en muestras de niños hospitalizados en el Hospital Carlos Van Buren, negativas a inmunofluorescencia (IF) paravirus respiratorios. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se analizaron un total de 82 muestras de aspirado nasofaríngeo de pacientes menores de 5 años hospitalizados por IRA en el Hospital Carlos Van Buren, negativos a IF, recolectadas entre Diciembre del 2011y Marzo del 2012. Se utilizó una RCP-TR anidada de tipo múltiplex específica para virus PIV (1, 2, 3, 4AB), COV-OC43 y 229E, y genérica para RV y EV. RESULTADOS: Los virus más frecuentes fueron los PIV, siendo identificados en 9 (10 por ciento) muestras, siendo: un 2 por ciento (n=2) PIV-2, un 7 por ciento (n=6) PIV-3 y un 1 por ciento (n=1) PIV-4AB. Además se detectó COV-OC43 en un 2 por ciento (n=2), RV y EV en un 6 por ciento (n=5). No se detectaron co-infecciones con dos o más virus. No hubo asociación entre edad de los niños y tipo de infección viral. DISCUSIÓN: Se describió la presencia de estos virus respiratorios en niños con IRA. Se logró detectar falsos negativos para PIV y se demostró la existencia de COV, RV y EV en la región.

INTRODUCTION: Acute Respiratory infection (ARI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide in pediatrics. The main etiological agents are respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenzavirus (PIV), influenza virus and adenovirus. Currently there are molecular diagnostic tests that have helped to identify unconventional agents. Our aim was to study the presence of: PIV, coronavirus (hCoV), rhinovirus (hRV) and human enterovirus (hEV), by using Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) in samples of hospitalized children on Carlos Van Buren Hospital negative to immunofluorescence (IF) for respiratory viruses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 82nasopharyngeal aspirate samples, negative to IF, were collected from children under five years old hospitalized due to ARI at Carlos Van Buren Hospital, between December 2011 and March2012. A Multiplex nested RT-PCR designed for the specifically detection of PIV (1, 2, 3, 4AB), hCoV (OC43 and 229E) and generic detection of RV and EV was used. RESULTS: Parainfluenza was the most frequently identified virus (n=9, 10 percent) specifically PIV-2 (n=2, 2 percent), PIV-3 (n=6, 7 percent) and PIV-4AB (n=1, 1 percent). Followed by hRV and hEV (n=5, 6 percent) and hCoV-OC43 (n=2, 2 percent). There were no co-infections with two or more viruses. There was no correlation between age and type of infection. DISCUSSION: This study described the prevalence of these respiratory viruses in pediatric patients with ARI. It was possible to detect false negative results for parainfluenza virus and also to demonstrate the existence of hCoV, hRV and hEV in the region.

Different species of human rhinovirus infection in children with acute respiratory tract infections in Beijing / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the clinical characteristics of different groups human rhinovirus (HRV)-A, B and C infection in children with acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) in Beijing.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Respiratory tract specimens (n = 1412) collected from children with ARI during Jan. 2011 to Dec. 2012 were tested for HRV by using semi-nested PCR. Gene fragments of VP4/VP2 capsid protein amplified from HRV positive specimens were sequenced for HRV genotype confirmation. Then epidemiological characteristics of these HRV-positive cases were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Among these 1412 specimens tested, 103 (7.3%) were HRV positive, including 54 (52.4%) positive for HRV-A, 14 (13.6%) for HRV-B, 35 (34.0%) for HRV-C determined by sequence analysis. The positive rates of HRV-A, B and C (2.5%, 16/638; 0.3%, 2/638 and 1.3%, 8/638) in children with acute upper respiratory tract infections (URI) were lower than those (5.8%, 36/623; 1.8%, 11/623 and 3.9%, 24/623) in children with acute lower respiratory tract infections (LRI) (P = 0.003, 0.011, 0.003). In children with LRI, the positive rates of HRV-A, C were similar to each other (P = 0.112), and both were higher than that of HRV-B (P = 0.000, P = 0.026). The severity of ARI among children positive for different groups HRV showed no significant difference evaluated by Kruskal-Wallis H test (Hc = 0.044, P > 0.05), as well as that between children co-infected with HRV and other viruses and those infected with HRV only evaluated by Wilcoxon rank sum test (Zc = 0.872, P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HRV is one of important pathogens for children with ARI, especially LRI in Beijing. The positive rates of HRV-A and HRV-C are similar to each other, and both are higher than that of HRV-B. No significant difference was shown among children with different HRV genotypes by evaluation of the severity of ARI, and co-infections of HRV with other viruses do not significantly increase the severity of ARI.</p>

Human rhinovirus with different genotypes in children with acute respiratory tract infections in Beijing / 病毒学报

To understand the infections and molecular biological characteristics of different human rhinovirus (HRV) genotypes -A, B, C, especially C in children with acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) in Beijing. Seven hundreds and three respiratory tract specimens were collected from children with ARI during Jan. 2011 to Dec. 2011. Semi-nested PCR was developed for detecting HRVs. Gene fragment of VP4/VP2 capsid protein amplified from HRV positive specimens was sequenced and analyzed by software DNAStar, the phylogenetic tree was then constructed by MEGA 5. 05. Among these 703 specimens tested, 54 (7.7%, 54/703) were HRV positive, including 25 (46.3%, 25/54) positive for HRV-A, 8 (14. 8%, 8/54) for HRV-B, 21 (38. 9%, 21/54) for HRV-C determined by sequence analysis. Most of these children (94. 4%00, 51/54) infected with HRVs were younger than 5 years old, and the highest positive rate was shown in group younger than 1 year (11. 4%). These patients positive for HRVs were diagnosed as bronchiolitis (23.1%), asthma (20.0%), pneumonia (1.0%), bronchitis (4.4%) and upper respiratory tract infections (4. 1%). Sequence analysis of VP4/VP2 gene fragment revealed that 70. 0% to 100. 0% nucleotide identity was shown among the sequences within the same HRV genotype, and 55. 5% to 65. 8% nucleotide identity among the sequences from different HRV genotypes. In conclusion, HRVs, especially HRV-C, are important pathogens for children with ARI in Beijing. The prevalence of HRV-C is similar to that of HRV-A, higher than that of HRV-B. High sequence variation among different HRV genotypes was indicated in this study.

Sequence analysis of VP1 gene of the duck hepatitis A virus type 3 strains isolated from Shandong Province of China in 2012 / 病毒学报

To reveal the genetic variation of the viral protein 1 (VP1) gene of the duck hepatitis A virus type 3 (DHAV-3), the VP1 gene of 13 virulent DHAV-3 strains isolated from Shandong province of China in 2012 were amplified by RT-PCR, sequenced and analyzed. The results showed that all the VP1 genes of the 13 isolates contained 720 nucleotides encoding 240 amino acids, and shared with nucleotide identities of 94. 6%-99.9% and amino acid identities of 95.0%-100%. The nucleotide and amino acid sequence homologies between the 13 DHAV-3 isolates and other 31 DHAV-3 reference strains were 92.5%-100% and 90. 8%-100%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the VP1 gene of DHAV-3 had distinct geographical characteristics. Distribution of genotypes of the 44 DHAV-3 strains was as follows: except the vaccine strain B63, all the other Chinese isolates belonged to genotype I (GI), Vietnamese wild isolates mainly belonged to subtype 1 (S1) of genotype II (GII), and all Korean isolates belonged to subtype 2 (S2) of GII.

Characterization of human rhinovirus in children with acute respiratory infections in Gansu Province during 2011 / 病毒学报

To study the epidemic characteristics of human rhinovirus (HRV) in children with acute respiratory infections in Gansu Province. 286 throat swabs were collected from children with acute respiratory in fections in Gansu Province during 2011. Multiplex reverse transcription-PCR (multiplex RT-PCR) assay was used to screen those specimens for detection of common respiratory tract pathogens. For HRV-positive samples, nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (nested RT-PCR) was performed to amplify VP1 and VP4/VP2 gene fragments of HRV. The VP4/VP2 and VP1 regions of HRV-positive samples were sequenced and performed genotype analysis. Of 286 specimens fested, 27 were positive for HRV by multiplex RT-PCR and nested RT-PCR, of which 16 children were made (16/185), 8.64%) and 11 female (11/101,10.89%). The positive rate was 9.44% (27/286). The mean age of HRV-positive children was 3 years in this study, children less than one year old had the highest proportion 44.4% (12/ 27, 44.4%). The highest HRV positive rate fell on May, 2011 (6/27, 22.2%). Common cold accounted for the highest proportion, 12.24% (12/98) followed by pneumonia, 8.50% (13/153). The remaining 2 cases were bronchitis. Sequence analysis showed HRV A was the predominant genotype in Gansu Province in 2011, accounting for 84.62% (22/26) of positive cases, followed by HRV C (11.54%, 3/26) and only one HRV B was detected (3.85%, 1/26). HRV could be detected throughout the year in Gansu Province and primarily infected children under one year old. The group A was the epidemic genotype of HRV and move than one genotype existed in Gansu Province during 2011.