Respiratory viral pathogens associated with lower respiratory tract disease among young children in the highlands of Papua New Guinea

[tetano]

J Clin Virol. 2012 May 15. [Epub ahead of print]
Respiratory viral pathogens associated with lower respiratory tract disease among young children in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.
Chidlow GR, Laing IA, Harnett GB, Greenhill AR, Phuanukoonnon S, Siba PM, Pomat WS, Shellam GR, Smith DW, Lehmann D.
Source

Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Nedlands, Australia; School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:

Acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRI) commonly result in fatal outcomes in the young children of Papua New Guinea (PNG). However, comprehensive studies of the viral aetiology of ALRI have not been conducted in PNG for almost 30 years.
OBJECTIVES:

To determine the viruses associated with ALRI among children living in the PNG highlands using sensitive molecular detection techniques.
STUDY DESIGN:

Pernasal swabs were collected routinely between 1 week and 18 months of age and also during episodes of ALRI, as part of a neonatal pneumococcal conjugate vaccine trial. A tandem multiplex real-time PCR assay was used to test for a comprehensive range of respiratory viruses in samples collected from 221 young children. Picornavirus typing was supported by DNA sequence analysis.
RESULTS:

Recognized pathogenic respiratory viruses were detected in 198/273 (73%) samples collected from children with no evidence of ALRI and 69/80 (86%) samples collected during ALRI episodes. Human rhinoviruses (HRV) species A, B and C were detected in 152 (56%) samples from non-ALRI children and 50 (63%) samples collected during ALRI episodes. Partial structural region sequences for two new species C rhinoviruses were added to the GenBank database. ALRI was associated with detection of adenovirus species B (p<0.01) or C (p<0.05), influenza A (p<0.0001) or respiratory syncytial virus (p<0.0001). Multiple viruses were detected more often during ALRI episodes (49%) than when children displayed no symptoms of ALRI (18%) (p<0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS:

The burden of infection with respiratory viruses remains significant in young children living in the PNG highlands.

Crown Copyright ? 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PMID:
22595309
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22595309

 

[Laidback Al]

Re: Respiratory viral pathogens associated with lower respiratory tract disease among young children in the highlands of Papua New Guinea

. . .

RESULTS:

Recognized pathogenic respiratory viruses were detected in 198/273 (73%) samples collected from children with no evidence of ALRI and 69/80 (86%) samples collected during ALRI episodes. Human rhinoviruses (HRV) species A, B and C were detected in 152 (56%) samples from non-ALRI children and 50 (63%) samples collected during ALRI episodes. Partial structural region sequences for two new species C rhinoviruses were added to the GenBank database. ALRI was associated with detection of adenovirus species B (p<0.01) or C (p<0.05), influenza A (p<0.0001) or respiratory syncytial virus (p<0.0001). Multiple viruses were detected more often during ALRI episodes (49%) than when children displayed no symptoms of ALRI (18%) (p<0.0001).

from: The rhinovirus?not such an innocent? (link to full article)

. . . In conclusion, there is little doubt that RVs, which for many years have been regarded as relatively benign pathogens, can in fact cause considerable morbidity, cost a lot of money, and kill, particularly if the host is weak. Several pharmaceutical companies are now developing antiviral agents against RVs. These agents clearly require further development, but they must also be matched with parallel development in rapid diagnosis if they are to be effectively targeted. It will be interesting to see how these agents impact on the increasingly evident clinical burden of disease if they reach the clinic.