[Human enteroviruses and respiratory infections]

Laurent Andréoletti1, Fanny Renois, Jérôme Jacques

  • 1Laboratoire de virologie médicale et moléculaire, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Reims ; EA-4303/IFR 53, 51100 Reims France. landreoletti@chu-reims.fr

Medecine Sciences : M/S
|December 3, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Enteroviruses (EV) cause respiratory infections in infants and adults. These common viruses, including coxsackievirus A16 and enterovirus 71, are increasingly linked to severe pneumonia and emerging infectious diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Context:

  • Enteroviruses (EV) are common human pathogens within the Picornaviridae family, encompassing 108 serotypes across 4 species.
  • EVs are responsible for diverse human pathologies, including upper and lower respiratory tract infections in both adults and infants.
  • Recent studies identify EVs as the third leading cause of bronchiolitis in infants (1-12 months).

Purpose:

  • To highlight the significant role of enteroviruses in respiratory infections.
  • To underscore the association of specific enteroviruses like coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16), enterovirus 71 (EV-71), and EV-104 with severe pneumonia.
  • To emphasize the potential for EV respiratory strains to cause future emerging infectious diseases due to viral evolution.

Summary:

  • Enteroviruses (EVs) are implicated in a spectrum of human illnesses, notably respiratory tract infections.
  • Specific EVs, including CV-A16, EV-71, and EV-104, are identified as etiological agents of acute or fatal pneumonia in infants and adults.
  • EVs, particularly respiratory strains, pose a growing threat due to frequent mutations and recombination, potentially leading to new infectious disease outbreaks.

Impact:

  • Elevates awareness of enteroviruses as critical pathogens in respiratory illness, especially in vulnerable infant populations.
  • Informs public health strategies for surveillance and control of enteroviral respiratory infections.
  • Highlights the need for ongoing research into EV evolution and the emergence of novel strains with pandemic potential.

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