Background: Human parechovirus (HPeV) and enterovirus (EV) infections are widespread and can lead to a broad range of symptoms, from the common cold to severe disease (SD). Because of the lack of Italian data, this 4-year retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the frequency, seasonality and molecular characteristics of EV and HPeV circulating in children younger than 5 years. Methods: A total of 812 samples were collected from children ≤5 years (56.5% males; median age: 20.6 months; interquartile range: 30.1 months) from September 2010 to August 2014. Two real-time RT-PCR assays were used for EV/HPeV and EV-D68 detection. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on the EV-VP1 gene and the HPeV-VP3/VP1 junction. Results: 16.1% and 5.2% of samples were EV- and HPeV-positive, respectively. One sample was EV-D68-positive. The majority (nearly 80%) of EV/HPeV-positive samples was detected in children ≤3 years, during the summer/autumn seasons. The risk of EV infection was higher in children presenting with SD, whereas the risk of infection from HPeV was higher in infants ≤1 year. Most (61.7%) of molecularly characterized EVs belonged to species B, followed by A (29.4%). The majority (66.7%) of characterized HPeVs were type 1, followed by types 3 (20%) and 6 (13.3%). Conclusions: This study shows the significant impact of EV/HPeV circulation in children, particularly among those ≤3 years and during and early autumn, with different pattern of viral strains. The implementation of a national surveillance system could clarify the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of these viruses in the general population.

Bubba, L., Martinelli, M., Pellegrinelli, L., Primache, V., Tanzi, E., Pariani, E., et al. (2017). A 4-year Study on Epidemiologic and Molecular Characteristics of Human Parechoviruses and Enteroviruses Circulating in Children Younger Than 5 Years in Northern Italy. THE PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL, 36(1), 13-19 [10.1097/INF.0000000000001344].

A 4-year Study on Epidemiologic and Molecular Characteristics of Human Parechoviruses and Enteroviruses Circulating in Children Younger Than 5 Years in Northern Italy

MARTINELLI, MARIANNA
Secondo
;
2017

Abstract

Background: Human parechovirus (HPeV) and enterovirus (EV) infections are widespread and can lead to a broad range of symptoms, from the common cold to severe disease (SD). Because of the lack of Italian data, this 4-year retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the frequency, seasonality and molecular characteristics of EV and HPeV circulating in children younger than 5 years. Methods: A total of 812 samples were collected from children ≤5 years (56.5% males; median age: 20.6 months; interquartile range: 30.1 months) from September 2010 to August 2014. Two real-time RT-PCR assays were used for EV/HPeV and EV-D68 detection. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on the EV-VP1 gene and the HPeV-VP3/VP1 junction. Results: 16.1% and 5.2% of samples were EV- and HPeV-positive, respectively. One sample was EV-D68-positive. The majority (nearly 80%) of EV/HPeV-positive samples was detected in children ≤3 years, during the summer/autumn seasons. The risk of EV infection was higher in children presenting with SD, whereas the risk of infection from HPeV was higher in infants ≤1 year. Most (61.7%) of molecularly characterized EVs belonged to species B, followed by A (29.4%). The majority (66.7%) of characterized HPeVs were type 1, followed by types 3 (20%) and 6 (13.3%). Conclusions: This study shows the significant impact of EV/HPeV circulation in children, particularly among those ≤3 years and during and early autumn, with different pattern of viral strains. The implementation of a national surveillance system could clarify the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of these viruses in the general population.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
enterovirus; epidemiology; molecular characterization; parechovirus; phylogenetic analysis;
enterovirus; epidemiology; molecular characterization; parechovirus; phylogenetic analysis; Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health; Microbiology (medical); Infectious Diseases
English
2017
36
1
13
19
none
Bubba, L., Martinelli, M., Pellegrinelli, L., Primache, V., Tanzi, E., Pariani, E., et al. (2017). A 4-year Study on Epidemiologic and Molecular Characteristics of Human Parechoviruses and Enteroviruses Circulating in Children Younger Than 5 Years in Northern Italy. THE PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL, 36(1), 13-19 [10.1097/INF.0000000000001344].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/156091
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