Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology
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Case Reports
Detection of enteroviral RNA on Guthrie card dried blood of a neonate with fatal Coxsackie B3 myocarditis on day 17.
A fatal case of Coxsackie B3 myocarditis in a neonate is described. The clinical features became evident in the 3rd week of life, but enteroviral RNA was detected in the dried blood spot of the baby collected on day 4 after birth. This is the first report on the detection of enteroviral RNA in Guthrie card dried blood using reverse-transcriptase PCR. Materials and methods used are described in detail.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of nasopharyngeal flocked swabs and aspirates for rapid diagnosis of respiratory viruses in children.
The quality of clinical specimens is a crucial determinant for virological diagnosis. ⋯ NPA remains the optimal specimen for diagnosis of respiratory infections by RT-PCR and DIF. However, collection of NPFS is easier to perform in an out-patient setting, was more acceptable to parents and less likely to generate aerosols than NPA engendering potentially less infection control hazard.
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HIV-infected women are at increased risk for cervical dysplasia. Cervical dysplasia is caused by persistent infections with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Conventional testing for genital HPV infections requires cervical cytology. A non-invasive screening method by detection of HPV DNA in urine samples is preferable but is not a routine practice. ⋯ In the present study we show that the HPV prevalence in urine and cervical smear samples of HIV-infected women is high and HPV test results are highly concordant. Therefore, urine samples can be used as medium for HPV testing. HPV testing in urine samples is a simple, reliable, non-invasive screening method.
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Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) was discovered in 2001 as a causative agent of respiratory disease in young children, immunocompromised individuals and the elderly. Clinical signs of hMPV infection range from mild respiratory illness to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. ⋯ The studies in rodent and non-human primate models look promising, but none of the vaccine candidates has been tested yet in human volunteers. Here we give an overview of the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a variety of live attenuated, virus vectored, inactivated virus and subunit vaccines that have been tested in animal models.