Human washington university polyomavirus in patients with respiratory tract infection in Kuwait

Objective: To determine Washington University [WU] polyomavirus strains circulating among hospitalized patients with respiratory tract infections [RTI] in Kuwait

Materials and Methods: Samples from 459 hospitalized children and adult RTI patients were screened for respiratory viruses by polymerase chain reaction from April 2013 to April 2016. The VP2 gene from WU virus (WUV)-positive samples was se-quenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis

Results: Of the 459 hospitalized RTI patients, 18 [3.9%] patients were positive for WUV infection. WUV infection was common among children aged <11 years (9 patients, 50%]. Among the 18 WUV-infected hospitalized patients, viral co-infection was detected in 9 patients [50%]. The most common viruses associated with mixed infection were respiratory syncytial virus and human rhinovirus [2 patients, 11.1 % each]. Of the 18 WUV-infected patients, 4 were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. The circulating strains belong to type la and Illb

Conclusions:This study enabled us to detect WUV among hospitalized RTI patients. Co-infection with other respiratory viruses was notable. Two circulating WUV genotypes [la and Illb] were identified among hospitalized RTI patients in Kuwait

prevalence of human Bocavirus, human Coronavirus-NL63, human Metapneumovirus, human Polyomavirus KI and WU in respiratory tract infections in Kuwait

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of human coronavirus [HCoV]-NL63, human metapneumovirus [hMPV], human bocavirus [Boca], human polyomavirus KI [KIV] and human polyomavirus WU [WUV] in respiratory tract infections [RTI] in Kuwait

Materials and Methods: Respiratory samples from 735 hospitalized patients with RTI from September 2010 to April 2013 were evaluated for the presence of HCoV-NL63, hMPV, Boca, KIV and WUV using molecular assays, polymerase chain reaction [PCR] and reverse-transcription PCR

Results: Of the 735 patients, 285 [38.8%] were diagnosed with viral RTI. The distribution of respiratory viruses was hMPV: 15 [5.3%], Boca: 14 [4.9%], WUV: 10 [3.5%] and KIV: 4 [1.4%]. HCoV-NL63 was not detected in any of the samples

Conclusions: These newly discovered viruses were associated with the development of RTI in Kuwait. The rapid identification of these viral infections could aid in the control of nosocomial transmission, reduce the use of antibiotics and improve treatment and management strategies