key: cord-1041873-se1kicnv
authors: Xiang, Zichun; Gonzalez, Richard; Xie, Zhengde; Xiao, Yan; Chen, Lan; Li, Yongjun; Liu, Chunyan; Hu, Yinghui; Yao, Yuan; Qian, Suyun; Geng, Rong; Vernet, Guy; Paranhos-Baccalà, Gláucia; Shen, Kunling; Jin, Qi; Wang, Jianwei
title: Human Rhinovirus Group C Infection in Children with Lower Respiratory Tract Infection
date: 2008-10-03
journal: Emerg Infect Dis
DOI: 10.3201/eid1410.080545
sha: 3ed0c2cb0dd726b902f5470fd984ce7cc7d6c62f
doc_id: 1041873
cord_uid: se1kicnv

nan

To the Editor: Human rhinoviruses (HRVs), members of the family Picornaviridae, were fi rst isolated in 1956 (1); to date, >100 serotypes have been identifi ed on the basis of nucleotide sequence homologies. HRVs were previously divided into 2 genetic groups, HRV-A (n = 75) and HRV-B (n = 25). Recently, a putative new and distinct rhinovirus group, HRV-C, has been reportedly found in some patients with respiratory tract infections (RTIs) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) . To extend these initial fi ndings and assess the pathogenicity of HRV-C, we investigated its prevalence as well as its clinical and molecular features in children with lower acute RTIs in Beijing, People's Republic of China.

From July through December 2007, nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from 258 children (167 boys and 91 girls) who had lower acute RTIs at the time of their admission to Beijing Children's Hospital. The children were 1 month to 15 years of age (mean age 37 months, median age 10 months). Nucleic acids were extracted from clinical samples by using the NucliSens easyMAG platform (bioMérieux SA, Marcy L'Etoile, France). Each specimen was tested for the presence of common respiratory viruses: human parainfl uenza viruses 1-4, infl uenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, enteroviruses, human coronaviruses (229E, NL63, HKU1, and OC43), metapneumovirus, adenoviruses, and bocaviruses. To study the prevalence of HRV-C, we designed a specifi c reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) that generated a 330-bp PCR product encompassing a portion of the 5′-untranslated region, the full virus capsid protein (VP) 4 gene, and a portion of the VP2 gene of the HRV-C genome. (All primer sequences and protocols of these assays are available from J.W. upon request.)

This RT-PCR detected HRV-C in 14 patients (12 boys and 2 girls, 1 month to 13 years of age [mean age 19 months, median age 6 months]). In 6 of the 14 patients, HRV-C was the only virus detected, which suggests a direct correlation between HRV-C infection and lower acute RTIs. In the remaining 8 patients, other respiratory viruses were also detected. Respiratory syncytial virus, the most important cause of lower acute RTIs in children, was codetected in 7 of the HRV-Cpositive patients, and human parainfl uenza virus 3 was codetected in the other patient. Human coronavirus NL63 was codetected with respiratory syncytial virus in 1 HRV-C-positive patient.

HRV-C infection may be seasonal. This virus was detected during only 3 of the 6 months in which specimens were collected. Specifi cally, HRV-C was detected in samples collected in October (7/50), November (5/96), and December (2/8) but not in those collected in July (0/37), August (0/42), or September (0/25). In contrast, HRV-A and HRV-B were detected in each month (data not shown). Indeed, from July through December, HRV-A and HRV-B viruses were detected in 34 and 12 patients, respectively. Notably, in October 2007, HRV-C was detected in 7 patients, while HRV-A and HRV-B were detected in 5 and 2 patients, respectively, which suggests that the cluster of cases of HRV infections during this month was caused mainly by HRV-C.

The 14 HRV-C-positive patients had a variety of other diseases including pneumonia (6/14), bronchopneumonia (4/14), and peribronchiolitis (3/14). The most common clinical fi ndings were cough (14/14), fever (9/14), and abnormal breath sounds on auscultation (11/14). Radiographic results were available for 10 of the 14 HRV-C-positive patients, all of whom had increased lung markings or patchy shadows. Although 3 of the 14 patients required admission to the pediatric intensive care ward, their clinical outcomes were favorable.

Phylogenetic analysis showed that the 14 sequences obtained during this study (GenBank accession nos. EU687515-EU687528) together with previously reported sequences formed a novel group of rhinoviruses (Figure) . Six sequences (BCH221, BCH264, BCH200, BCH341, BCH217, and BCH250) displayed high similarity to HRV C025 (EF582386) from Hong Kong (4); 2 sequences (BCH249 and BCH343) displayed high similarity to NAT083 (EF077264) from the United States (3) and Picornaviridae strain 06-646 (EU081811) from Germany (5) . BCH242 was similar to Picornaviridae strain tu403 (EU081795) from Germany (5) . The other 5 strains were homologous to strains from Australia (EU155152-EU155154, EU155158) (2,7). These fi ndings suggest that, as in other countries (5), the HRV-C strains circulating in China are diverse. Although HRV-C strains belonging to different gene clusters cocirculate, some genetically close strains dominated during certain periods, e.g., the C025-like strain (6/14) was dominant during the study period. A similar distribution pattern is observed in epidemics of HRV-A and HRV-B (9,10).

In conclusion, HRV-C strains were detected in hospitalized children with lower acute RTIs in Beijing. Coinfections were common and complex, which indicates that the role of HRV-C in patients with multiple infections should be further investigated. Our fi ndings provide additional evidence that HRV-C is spreading globally (8) and suggest that HRV-C infections should be considered a serious public health concern.

This work was partly fi 

The isolation of a new virus associated with respiratory clinical disease in humans

Characterisation of a newly identifi ed human rhinovirus, HRV-QPM, discovered in infants with bronchiolitis

Pan-viral screening of respiratory tract infections in adults with and without asthma reveals unexpected human coronavirus and human rhinovirus diversity

Clinical features and complete genome characterization of a distinct human rhinovirus (HRV) genetic cluster, probably representing a previously undetected HRV species, HRV-C, associated with acute respiratory illness in children

A recently identifi ed rhinovirus genotype is associated with severe respiratory tract infection in children in Germany

Distinguishing molecular features and clinical characteristics of a putative new rhinovirus species, human rhinovirus C (HRV C)

Frequent detection of human rhinoviruses, paramyxoviruses, coronaviruses, and bocavirus during acute respiratory tract infections

Global distribution of novel rhinovirus genotype

Phylogenetic analysis of rhinovirus isolates collected during successive epidemic seasons

Fields virology

Chromosomal DNA was isolated by using the NucleoBond kit (Macherey-Nagel, Düren, Germany). The location of the QRDR in gyrase and topoisomerase IV genes was based upon prior studies in meningococci (online Appendix Table) and on the complete sequence of strain N. meningitidis Z2491 (serogroup A; Gen-Bank accession no. NC_003116). We amplifi ed and sequenced extended regions encompassing the QRDRs by using the upstream and downstream primer pairs in gyrA (522 bases) 5′-GTTCCGCGTCAAAATATGCT-3′, 5′-CCGAAATTGACGGTTTCTTC-3′; gyrB (649 bases) 5′-GGTTTGACC TGCGTGTTGTC-3′, 5′-CGGCTGG GCGATATAGATG-3′; parC (635 bases) 5′-CACTATGGTTTGCCGT TTTG-3′, 5′-ATTTCGGACAACAG CAATTC-3′; and parE (610 bases) 5′-GGACAGGATGGCGATTTTG-3′, 5′-CGTCAGCAACTTCATCAACC-3′. PCR was performed by using Taq DNA polymerase (New England BioLabs, Beverly, MA, USA). DNA sequencing was performed using the ABI PRISM 3700 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). Screening for plasmidmediated quinolone resistance genes was carried out by multiplex PCR amplifi cation of qnrA, qnrB, and qnrS as