Analysis the viral etiology of fever and respiratory tract infection syndrome in Shaanxi province / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Analysis the viral pathogenic spectrum for patients with fever and respiratory tract infection syndrome in Shaanxi province during 2010 and investigate the molecular epidemiology characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 208 patients' pharyngeal swabs were collected based on surveillance definition from January 2010 to January 2011 and screened for sixteen human respiratory virus types/subtypes by Qiaxcel-based multiplex reverse transcription-PCR assay, including HRV,HCoV, Flu, HPIV, ADV, HRSV, HMPV and HBoV and investigate molecular epidemiology of HRSV by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the C-terminal second hypervariable region of the G gene.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>109 out of 208 specimens (53%) were positive for one or more viruses. HRSV(42. 2%) was the dominant pathogen detected, followed by Flu(24. 5%), PIV(20%), HRV(13.6%) and ADV( 10.9%),there were also 8 strains of HCoV, 5 strains of HMPV and 3 strains of HBoV detected. The results showed that 22 specimens were positive for two or more viruses, PIV (14/22) was the most frequently detected viral agent among co-infection specimens, and the highest incidence of mixed infection is aged 15-39 years group (P < 0.05). The overall viral detection rate was no related to age. In addition to Flu, HMPV and PIV, other viruses (HRV, HBoV, HCoV, ADV, RSV) mainly infected 0 to 4 years old children. Among 46 HRSV positive specimens, 42 HRSV-A strains clustered into NA1 genotype and two HRSV-B strains clustered into two genotypes, BA9 and GB2.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HRSV is the dominate pathogen collected from patients with fever and respiratory tract infection syndrome in Shaanxi and HRSV A is the predominant subtype. For most viruses, infection was most prevalent among children aged <4 years. PIV was the most common pathogen in co-infection.</p>

Analysis on genetic characteristics of mumps virus strains circulating in Hunan province in 2011 / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To be acquainted with genetic characteristics and variation of mumps virus strains circulating in Hunan province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mumps virus (MV) strains were isolated using Vero/ SLAM cells. The small hydrophobic protein (SH) genes of MV isolates were sequenced, and the sequences were analysed phylogenetically between the isolated strains and other reference mumps strains.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>4 mumps virus strains were isolated from 16 specimens collected in 2011 from different regions of Hunan province. The genotype of isolated strains were supposed to be F type.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Genotype F is the main genotype of circulating strains in Hunan province in 2011 and there is no variation between genotype.</p>

Epidemiology and etiology of hand-foot-and-mouth disease in Hainan, 2010 / 病毒学报

To reveal the epidemiological and pathogenic characteristics of Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) in Hainan province in 2010, epidemiology data of HFMD reporting cases were analyzed, clinical specimens from 1346 HFMD cases were collected for enterovirus (EV) detection. Viral isolation was performed for EV nucleic acid positive samples. Complete VP1 encoding region of EV71 were sequenced and analyzed with Sequencher (version 5.0) and MEGA software (version 5.0). The epidemiology data showed that all 18 prefectures in Hainan had reporting cases during 2010, with higher incidence in the northeast; and the children less than 4 years old accounted for the majority of the suffered; the epidemic reached peak during September to October, which was different from other Provinces in China. The laboratory results indicated that EV71 and CA16 were identified as the major causative pathogens in Hainan in 2010, however, EV71 infection was absolutely dominant among severe and fatal cases. In addition, some HFMD cases were identified associated with other serotypes of EV infections. Molecular epidemiological analysis showed that all the EV71 strains belonged to C4a evolutionary branch, which is the dominant evolutionary branch in China in recent years, and at least three transmission chains existed. This study has an important information in clarifying the characteristics of epidemics and transmission of HFMD in Hainan, and to provide the guidance for HFMD prevention and control in the future.

Characterization of human rhinovirus in children with acute respiratory infections in Gansu Province during 2011 / 病毒学报

To study the epidemic characteristics of human rhinovirus (HRV) in children with acute respiratory infections in Gansu Province. 286 throat swabs were collected from children with acute respiratory in fections in Gansu Province during 2011. Multiplex reverse transcription-PCR (multiplex RT-PCR) assay was used to screen those specimens for detection of common respiratory tract pathogens. For HRV-positive samples, nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (nested RT-PCR) was performed to amplify VP1 and VP4/VP2 gene fragments of HRV. The VP4/VP2 and VP1 regions of HRV-positive samples were sequenced and performed genotype analysis. Of 286 specimens fested, 27 were positive for HRV by multiplex RT-PCR and nested RT-PCR, of which 16 children were made (16/185), 8.64%) and 11 female (11/101,10.89%). The positive rate was 9.44% (27/286). The mean age of HRV-positive children was 3 years in this study, children less than one year old had the highest proportion 44.4% (12/ 27, 44.4%). The highest HRV positive rate fell on May, 2011 (6/27, 22.2%). Common cold accounted for the highest proportion, 12.24% (12/98) followed by pneumonia, 8.50% (13/153). The remaining 2 cases were bronchitis. Sequence analysis showed HRV A was the predominant genotype in Gansu Province in 2011, accounting for 84.62% (22/26) of positive cases, followed by HRV C (11.54%, 3/26) and only one HRV B was detected (3.85%, 1/26). HRV could be detected throughout the year in Gansu Province and primarily infected children under one year old. The group A was the epidemic genotype of HRV and move than one genotype existed in Gansu Province during 2011.

Genetic characterization of human parainfluenza virus 3 circulating in Gansu and Shaanxi Provinces from 2009 to 2011 / 病毒学报

To investigate the genetic characterization of Human parainfluenza virus-3 (HPIV-3) circulating in Gansu and Shaanxi Provinces of China, 719 throat swabs were collected from pediatric patients with acute respiratory infections from 2009-2011. Multiplex RT-PCR was used to screen common respiratory viral pathogens. For HPIV-3-positive specimens, nested RT-PCR was used to amplify the HN gene of HPIV-3. The nucleotides of Hemagglutinin-neuraminidase(HN)gene of 13 HPIV-3 positive strains identified in Gansu and Shaanxi Provinces were successfully sequenced and compared with those downloaded from GenBank. The phylogenetic analysis based on the nucleotides sequence of HN gene showed that 13 HPIV-3 strains belonged to sub-cluster C3 with little sequence variation (overall nucleotide divergence of 0.2%-2.3% and amino acid divergence at 0-1.1%). Compared with the complete gene of HPIV-3 strains from U.S.A., Canada, and Australia, the biggest divergence of the nucleotide and amino acid lovels was 6.0% and 3.4%, respectively. The nucleotide divergence between shaanxi09-2 and shaanxi10-H0091 was 0.9%, while the nucleotide divergence between shaanxi10-H005 and gansull-62110372 was 0.5%, between shaanxi09-2 and BJ/291/09 was 0.6%. However, there was no amino acid divergence among them. It is likely that HPIV-3 virus had been transmitting in Gansu and Shaanxi Provinces for several years. Human parainfluenza virus-3 (HPIV-3) circulated in Gansu and Shaanxi Provinces from 2009 to 2011 belonged to sub-cluster C3.

Development of A synthetic positive control for the nucleic acid detection of mumps virus / 病毒学报

To rapidly identify the cross-contamination problems caused by the positive control in the process of mumps virus nucleic acid detection, a new mumps virus RNA positive control was developed in this study. Using the same primers and reaction conditions, the cross-contamination problems caused by the positive control could be readily identified by comparing the fragments lengths of the PCR products between the positive control and the samples. This new RNA positive control of mumps virus can be widely used in the diagnosis and genotyping of mumps virus as a better laboratory quality control.

Genetic analysis of a genotype F mumps virus based on its complete genome sequence / 病毒学报

Mumps virus strains of genotype F have been circulating in China for decades. To identify genetic variation of mumps virus based on the complete genome sequence of a mumps isolate of genotype F, the complete genome of the genotype F reference strain, MuVi/Shandong. CHN/4.05 [F] was sequenced. Genetic characteristics of this virus were analyzed and compared with the complete genome sequences of others genotypes available in GenBank. The genetic differences in antigenic sites were also compared between the genotype F strain and the vaccine strains. The nucleotide differences between MuVi/Shandong. CHN/4.05 [F] and other genotypes of mumps virus based on the whole genome ranged between 3.8% and 6.5%. The maximum and minimum difference was found between MuVi/Shandong. CHN/4.05 [F] and genotype A (the vaccine strains), and genotype B-N strains, respectively. There were 26 N-glycosylation sites in the strain MuVi/Shandong. CHN/4.05 [F] and all other genotypes of mumps virus, however, one N-glycosylation site was absent from the vaccine strains, which was at the aa position 464-466 of the HN gene. Variation was detected at some of the known antigenic sites of mumps virus strain MuVi/Shandong. CHN/4.05 [F] and the vaccine strains. Genetic variations were detected in the epidemic mumps virus strain in China as well as in other genotypes of mumps virus strains and the vaccine strains across the complete genome. These results indicate the need to further strengthen the surveillance of genetic variation of wild type mumps virus.

Transmission and prevalence patterns of C4a evolutionary lineage of human enterovirus 71 circulating in mainland China, 2008-2010 / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the evolutionary relationship between the C4a evolutionary lineage of human enterovirus 71 (HEV71) strains circulating in mainland of China during 2008-2010 and 2008 Fuyang strains and study the prevalence and transmission patterns of 2008 Fuyang strains.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Download all the complete VP1 ( > or = 891 bp) or approximate complete VP1 (> or = 876 bp) gene nucleotide sequences from GenBank of HEV71 strains circulating in Mainland of China during 2008-2010. And analyze the phylogenetic relationship between Fuyang strains and other provinces' strains using the MEGA software, version 5.0.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All of the HEV71 isolates circulating in Mainland of China during 2008-2010 were clustered into evolutionary lineage C4a except for eight strains grouped in the genotype A and one isolate belongs to evolutionary lineage C4b; the homology analysis showed there were 96.5%-100% identity between C4a viruses circulating in mainland China during 2008-2010 and 2008 Fuyang strains, and they were evolved from C4b viruses of 1998. The transmission chains of Fuyang strains were mainly transmitted in Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Hunan, Shandong provinces.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The predominant viruses circulating in Mainland of China during 2008-2010 were evolutionary lineage C4a of human Enterovirus 71; Fuyang transmission chains mainly distributed in southern of China and the Central China around Anhui provinces.</p>

Human bocavirus in children suffering from acute lower respiratory tract infection in Beijing Children's Hospital / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a parvovirus recently found to possibly cause respiratory tract disease in children and adults. This study investigated HBoV infection and its clinical characteristics in children younger than five years of age suffering from acute lower respiratory tract infection in Beijing Children's Hospital.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from children suffering from acute lower respiratory tract infection during the winters of 2004 to 2006 (from November through the following February). HBoV was detected by polymerase chain reaction amplification and virus isolation and the amplification products were sequenced for identification.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HBoV infection was detected in 16 of 333 study subjects. Coinfections with respiratory syncytial virus were detected in 3 of 16 HBoV positive patients with acute lower respiratory tract infection. The median age for HBoV positive children was 8 months (mean age, 17 months; range, 3 to 57 months). Among the HBoV positive children, 14 were younger than 3 years old, 9 were younger than 1 year old and 7 were younger than 6 months. These 16 positive HBoV children exhibited coughing and abnormal chest radiography findings and more than 60% of these children had wheezing and fever. Ten children were clinically diagnosed with pneumonia, 2 bronchiolitis, 2 acute bronchitis and 2 asthma. One child died.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>HBoV was detected in about 5% of children with acute lower respiratory infection seen in Beijing Children's Hospital. Further investigations regarding clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of HBoV infection are needed.</p>

Detection of enterovirus 71 and coxsackievirus A16 from children with hand, foot and mouth disease in Shanghai, 2002 / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>It was noticed that coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) and enterovirus 71 (EV71) were two major etiological agents of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in children. Recently there were several large outbreaks of HFMD in the Asia-Pacific region, and there was a propensity to cause severe complications or death in children under 5 years of age. The severe forms were associated with EV71 infection. Although epidemics of HFMD have been reported in the mainland of China, few reports about EV71 as the pathogen of HFMD epidemics are available. The present study was conducted to investigate the causal agent of an HFMD epidemic in children in Shanghai from April to June of 2002.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 102 specimens (including vesicle fluid, stool and throat swabs) were collected from 72 patients with HFMD. The specimens were inoculated into Vero and/or RD cells. At first all the isolates were respectively neutralized by the RIVM pools of enterovirus antiserum, the type-specific antisera to EV71 or to CA16. Secondly all untyped isolates were tested by RT-PCR assay with two specific primer pairs for VP1 genes of EV71 and CA16 respectively. The EV71 and CA16 were identified depending on the size of PCR products. Sequence analyses of VP1 genes of 9 virus strains were performed by the laboratory of China CDC.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Viruses were isolated from 91 specimens from 67 patients. Serotyping by neutralization failed for all the isolates. But the RT-PCR results indicated that the viruses isolated from 78 specimens from 58 patients were identified as positive for CA16 and the isolates from 13 specimens from 9 patients were identified as positive for EV71, the ratio between CA16 and EV71 was 6.4:1. The results of sequence analyses were consistent with those of PCR assay. Two EV71 strains isolated in this study belonged to a new lineage (C4) within genogroup C. One patient with EV71-associated HFMD had a complication of encephalitis with convulsion, shock, coma and dyspnea.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CA16 and EV71 were the primary causes of HFMD during the epidemic. It was the first report of EV71-associated severe encephalitis occurred in patients with HFMD in Shanghai.</p>

DNA sequences of Paragonimus skrjabini populations from five provinces in China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To study differences among Paragonimus skrjabini (P. skrjabini) populations from five provinces in China (Guangdong, Fujian, Yunnan, Hubei, and Sichuan) and Paragonimus szechuanensis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DNA sequences were obtained from the ITS2 and CO1 genes and phylogenetic trees were constructed from the results. Sequences were also obtained from several other species of Paragonimus for comparative purposes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Although differences existed in the DNA sequence among P. skrjabini populations from five provinces, the differences were very small. There was also some resemblance between P. miyazakii from Japan and Fujian strains of P. skrjabini.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All studied populations can be regarded as different strains of P. skrjabini; P. szechuanensis is not a separate species but may be a geographical strain of P. skrjabini. We also found that P. miyazakii may be synonymous with P. skrjabini.</p>