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An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Published on: December 10, 2013
Viral respiratory infections in hospitalized and community control children in Alaska
Rosalyn J Singleton1, Lisa R Bulkow, Karen Miernyk
1Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, Alaska. ris2@cdc.gov
Insights
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) are key causes of severe respiratory hospitalizations in Alaska Native children. Other viruses like rhinovirus were common but not strongly linked to hospitalization severity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Virology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Alaska Native children in the Yukon Kuskokwim (YK) Delta experience RSV hospitalizations five times higher than the general US child population.
- The role of other respiratory viruses in this population's hospitalizations remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and impact of various viral respiratory pathogens in hospitalized children and controls in the YK Delta.
- To identify viruses significantly associated with respiratory hospitalizations and illness severity in young children.
Main Methods:
- Prospective enrollment of 440 hospitalized children (<3 years) and 425 community controls from October 2005 to September 2007.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of nasopharyngeal samples to detect multiple respiratory viruses.
- Comparative analysis of viral detection rates and clinical characteristics between hospitalized cases and asymptomatic controls.
Main Results:
- Respiratory viruses were detected in 90% of hospitalized children and 52% of controls.
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), and parainfluenza viruses (PIV) were significantly more common in hospitalized children.
- RSV and hMPV were associated with increased illness severity, while rhinovirus, adenovirus, and coronavirus were frequently detected in both groups, obscuring their role in hospitalization.
Conclusions:
- RSV remains the primary viral cause of respiratory hospitalizations in YK Delta children, with hMPV and PIV also being significant contributors.
- RSV and hMPV infections are linked to more severe respiratory illness in this vulnerable population.
- The high prevalence of rhinovirus and adenovirus in controls suggests their role in severe respiratory hospitalizations requires further investigation.
Abstract:
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Alaska Native children from the Yukon Kuskokwim (YK) Delta is associated with a hospitalization rate five times higher than that reported for the general US child population. The role of other viral respiratory pathogens has not been studied in this population. YK Delta children <3 years of age hospitalized with respiratory infections and same aged community control children were prospectively enrolled between October 2005 and September 2007. Polymerase chain reaction detection of viruses was performed on nasopharyngeal samples. Characteristics of hospitalized and asymptomatic control children were analyzed. From October 2005 to September 2007, 440 hospitalized and 425 control children were analyzed. Respiratory viruses were detected in 90% (395) of hospitalized children: 194 (44%) rhinovirus, 131 (30%) adenovirus, 102 (23%) RSV, 77 (18%) para influenza viruses (PIV), 66 (15%) human metapneumovirus (hMPV), 23 (5%) influenza, and 25 (6%) coronavirus. Fifty-two percent (221) of control children had a virus detected, most commonly rhinovirus (33%), and adenovirus (16%). RSV, PIV, hMPV, and influenza were significantly more common in hospitalized cases than control children, but rhinovirus, adenovirus, and coronavirus were not. RSV and hMPV were associated with higher severity of illness. In this study, RSV remains the most important virus associated with respiratory hospitalization, although hMPV and PIV were also common. RSV and hMPV were associated with more severe illness. Rhinovirus and adenovirus were detected in two-thirds of hospitalized children, but their frequent detection in control children made their role in respiratory hospitalization uncertain.
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