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

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 (18 days-6 months). Most common clinical signs (11/11 patients) were irritability, inappetence, and fever (magnitude 38-38.8°C). All six samples genotyped were HPeV 3 [CORRECTED]. CONCLUSIONS: HPeV should be considered as a relatively significant etiologic agent of viral meningoencephalitis and sepsis in infants.

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.