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. 2007 Feb 20;79(4):463–468. doi: 10.1002/jmv.20832

Detection and typing by molecular techniques of respiratory viruses in children hospitalized for acute respiratory infection in Rome, Italy

Alessandra Pierangeli 1,✉, Massimo Gentile 1, Paola Di Marco 1, Paolo Pagnotti 1, Carolina Scagnolari 1, Simona Trombetti 1, Lelia Lo Russo 2, Valeria Tromba 2, Corrado Moretti 2, Fabio Midulla 2, Guido Antonelli 1
PMCID: PMC7166338  PMID: 17311326

Abstract

Detection of a broad number of respiratory viruses is not undertaken currently for the diagnosis of acute respiratory infection due to the large and always increasing list of pathogens involved. A 1‐year study was undertaken on children hospitalized consecutively for acute respiratory infection in a Pediatric Department in Rome to characterize the viruses involved. Two hundred twenty‐seven children were enrolled in the study with a diagnosis of asthma, bronchiolitis, bronchopneumonia, or laringo‐tracheo bronchitis. A molecular approach was adopted using specific reverse transcription (RT)‐PCR assays detecting 13 respiratory viruses including metapneumovirus (hMPV) and the novel coronaviruses NL63 and HKU1; most amplified fragments were sequenced to confirm positive results and differentiate the strain. Viral pathogens were detected in 97 samples (42.7%), with 4.8% of dual infections identified; respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was detected in 17.2% of children, followed by rhinovirus (9.7%), parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3) (7.5%), and influenza type A (4.4%). Interestingly, more than half the patients (9/17) that have rhinovirus as the sole respiratory pathogen had pneumonia. HMPV infected children below 3 years in two peaks in March and June causing bronchiolitis and pneumonia. One case of NL63 infection is described, documenting NL63 circulation in central Italy. In conclusion, the use of a comprehensive number of PCR‐based tests is recommended to define the burden of viral pathogens in patients with respiratory tract infection. J. Med. Virol. 79:463–468, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Keywords: respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, RT‐PCR, co‐infection

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