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Role of human polyomaviruses in respiratory tract disease in young children

Rachel L Wattier1, Marietta Vázquez, Carla Weibel

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8064, USA.

Emerging Infectious Diseases
|November 4, 2008
PubMed

Insights

KI virus and WU virus were detected in respiratory secretions of symptomatic children. These human polyomaviruses may not independently cause respiratory tract disease in young children.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Human polyomaviruses are common, but their role in pediatric respiratory illness is not fully understood.
  • Previous studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the association between polyomaviruses and respiratory symptoms in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of KI virus and WU virus in respiratory secretions of symptomatic and asymptomatic children.
  • To determine if these human polyomaviruses are independently associated with respiratory tract disease in young children.

Main Methods:

  • Respiratory samples were collected from 367 symptomatic and 96 asymptomatic children.
  • Samples were tested for the presence of KI virus and WU virus using molecular detection methods.

Main Results:

  • KI virus was detected in 2.2% of symptomatic children and none of the asymptomatic children (p = 0.215).
  • WU virus was detected in 7.1% of symptomatic children and 6.3% of asymptomatic children (p = 1.00).
  • No statistically significant difference in detection rates was observed for WU virus between symptomatic and asymptomatic groups.

Conclusions:

  • KI virus and WU virus are detectable in the respiratory secretions of young children.
  • The findings suggest that KI virus and WU virus may not be independent causative agents of respiratory tract disease in this pediatric population.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the precise role of these viruses in pediatric respiratory infections.

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