ABSTRACT
This paper presents the epidemiological study of respiratory viral infections in Croatia from 1 September 1986 till 31 August 1987. A total of 527 patients with acute respiratory diseases were examined. Their nasopharyngeal secretion and/or throat swab were taken and the viruses were demonstrated by the method of direct viral diagnosis (isolation and rapid immunofluorescent detection). This 12-month study on acute respiratory infections in Croatia in 1986/1987 shows that viruses were the agents in 47.2% of these infections. Out of a total of 527 patients with acute respiratory disease, 177 patients had RSV (prevalence 33.6%), 40 adenovirus (prevalence 7.6%), 18 enterovirus (prevalence 3.4%), 12 parainfluenza (prevalence 2.3%), 8 herpes simplex virus (prevalence 1.3%) and 3 influenza virus (prevalence 0.6%) infection; (9 patients had mixed infections with two viruses). Viral etiology was proved in 44.0% of upper respiratory tract infections, 86.5% of bronchiolitis, 63.3% of pneumonia, 57.5% of bronchitis, and 33.3% of croup. The epidemical wave of RSV infections started in October 1986 and lasted for the next 7 and a half months with a peak in December 1986. Infections with parainfluenza occurred in November 1986 and subsided in March 1987 with a peak in December 1986. An epidemic of adenovirus occurred in two waves and lasted throughout 9 months. Enteroviruses caused infections during the fall and at the beginning of the winter 1986 but also again in the spring 1987.
Subject(s)
Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology , Virus Diseases/epidemiology , Humans , Prevalence , Seasons , Yugoslavia/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Results of the direct immunofluorescence (IF) test in 152 clinical specimens (throat swabs) were compared with those of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) isolation. The prevalence of RSV infections in the upper and lower respiratory tract was high especially in infants until 12 months of age. The average RSV isolation rate was 18.42%, whereas the virus antigen detection was positive in 19.74% of cases. The agreement between virus isolation and direct IF was 92.1%, the sensitivity of IF being 82.14% and its specificity 94.35%.
Subject(s)
Respiratory Syncytial Viruses/isolation & purification , Respirovirus Infections/microbiology , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Cells, Cultured , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Cross Infection/microbiology , Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Humans , Immune Sera , Infant , Pharynx/microbiology , Respiratory Syncytial Viruses/immunology , Respirovirus Infections/epidemiology , Vero Cells , Virus Replication , YugoslaviaABSTRACT
The prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection was studied during three consecutive annual outbreaks (1983-1986) in SR Croatia, Yugoslavia. A total of 1,238 subjects were examined, using RSV isolation and immunofluorescent (DTFA) methods, with 1,042 showing the signs of respiratory infection and 207 of these having a positive RSV finding. Generally, the prevalence of mild upper respiratory infection (URTI) was 18%, reaching a peak of 30% at 1 year of age. The prevalence of severe lower respiratory tract infections with bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and croup accounted for 51, 34.4, and 28.3% respectively. The highest incidence of RSV infection among respiratory cases was observed in the first 6 months of life (49.4%), being particularly high at the second month among those with URTI, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and croup (76.2%). Both sexes were equally susceptible to RSV infection (20.51% females, 19.03% males). RSV infections, seasonal incidence ranged from 25.55 to 30.31% in 1983/84 and 1984/85 respectively and dropped sharply to 8.93% in 1985/86.
