Journal of medical virology
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The Hantavirus genus comprises rodent borne, zoonotic viruses of the Bunyaviridae family that cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Eurasia and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in the Americas. Rodent saliva contains infectious hantavirus and evidence suggests that hantavirus is also shed in human saliva, but person-to-person transmission is rare. In saliva, immunoglobulin (Ig) A is the predominant immunoglobulin class. ⋯ There was a statistically significant inverse association between the presence of salivary IgA antibodies and PUUV RNA in the saliva. PUUV-specific IgA in saliva was not found in a long-term follow-up, while PUUV IgA in serum was detected in three patients, 28-32 months after the initial study. Notably, both PUUV RNA and PUUV nucleocapsid antigen were detected in endothelial cells within the parotid gland of a deceased patient with HFRS.
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The discovery of human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) and human Bocavirus (hBoV) identified the etiological causes of several cases of acute respiratory tract infections in children. This report describes the molecular epidemiology of hMPV and hBoV infections observed following viral surveillance of children hospitalized for acute respiratory tract infections in Milan, Italy. Pharyngeal swabs were collected from 240 children ≤3 years of age (130 males, 110 females; median age, 5.0 months; IQR, 2.0-12.5 months) and tested for respiratory viruses, including hMPV and hBoV, by molecular methods. hMPV-RNA and hBoV-DNA positive samples were characterized molecularly and a phylogenetical analysis was performed. ⋯ Phylogenetic analysis showed an increased prevalence of hMPV genotype A (A2b sublineage) compared to genotype B (80% vs. 20%, respectively) and of the hBoV genotype St2 compared to genotype St1 (71.4% vs. 28.6%, respectively). Interestingly, a shift in hMPV infections resulting from A2 strains has been observed in recent years. In addition, the occurrence of recombination events between two hBoV strains with a breakpoint located in the VP1/VP2 region was identified.
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Comparative Study
Lymphocytopenia as a marker for pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 virus infection in children.
Lymphocytopenia has been reported in adults with pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 infection, but data in children are inconclusive. Data from 76 children presented with flu-like symptoms between July and November 2009 and tested for pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 virus and white blood cell (WBC) counts were analyzed. Samples from 37 (48.7%) children resulted in a positive PCR assay for pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 virus. ⋯ In conclusion, lymphocytopenia is a marker for influenza A/H1N1 2009 virus infection in children. Absolute lymphocyte count <2,556 cells/µl or absolute lymphocyte count z-score < -0.89 may be useful cut-offs to discriminate against children at higher risk of infection during epidemics. Considering that the pandemic virus is highly likely to continue to circulate in the coming winter season, these findings provide direct and practical implications for the near future.
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Little is known about the kinetics of viral shedding of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 virus. Influenza RNA, as a surrogate for viral clearance, was therefore measured on days 1, 5, 7, and 10 or more in patients admitted to hospital with pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 infection. A total of 72 patients who were admitted to hospital with confirmed pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 at a tertiary care hospital, Seoul, South Korea, between 1 September and 11 November 2009 were evaluated. ⋯ Multivariate analysis showed that oseltamivir started after the first day of symptoms (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2-5.7) was associated independently with slower viral clearance. These findings indicate that, in about 50% of patients admitted to hospital with pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009, virus can be positive as tested by RT-PCR on the eighth day after developing symptoms of influenza. The present findings also indicate that starting antiviral therapy within 24 hr of the onset of symptoms is associated with more rapid viral clearance.
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Idiopathic peripheral facial nerve palsy has been associated with the reactivation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or varicella zoster virus (VZV). In recent studies, detection rates were found to vary strongly which may be caused by the use of different oral fluid collection devices in combination with molecular assays lacking standardization. In this single-center pilot study, liquid phase-based and absorption-based oral fluid collection was compared. ⋯ All patients with herpes labialis tested positive for HSV-1 DNA and all patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome tested positive for VZV DNA. With the absorption-based oral fluid collection system, detections rates and viral loads were found to be significantly lower when compared to those obtained with the liquid phase-based collection system. Collection of oral fluid with a liquid phase-based system and the use of automated and standardized molecular methods allow early and reliable detection of HSV-1 and VZV DNAs in patients with acute idiopathic peripheral facial nerve palsy and may provide a valuable decision support regarding start of antiviral treatment at the first clinical visit.