Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
Rapid Molecular Detection and Differentiation of Influenza Viruses A and B
Published on: January 30, 2017
Detection of influenza C virus by a real-time RT-PCR assay
Kanti Pabbaraju1, Sallene Wong, Anita Wong
1Provincial Laboratory for Public Health, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Insights
Influenza C virus infections are under-diagnosed in children. A new real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR (rt RT-PCR) assay effectively detects influenza C, revealing its prevalence in young children.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Influenza C virus causes respiratory infections, particularly in children.
- Under-diagnosis and limited epidemiological data hinder understanding due to lack of convenient detection assays.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and validate a real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR (rt RT-PCR) assay for influenza C detection.
Main Methods:
- Respiratory samples from hospitalized/emergency pediatric patients and unexplained respiratory outbreaks were analyzed.
- Real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR (rt RT-PCR) was employed for influenza C detection.
- Sequencing of the hemagglutinin-esterase gene was performed for lineage analysis.
Main Results:
- The developed rt RT-PCR assay demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for influenza C.
- Eleven of 474 pediatric patients (2.32%) tested positive for influenza C, all under 10 years old.
- Sequencing identified two influenza C lineages: C/Kanagawa and C/Sao Paulo.
Conclusions:
- Influenza C infections are more common in younger children and during winter months.
- This study reports the first detection of influenza C in Alberta, Canada.
- Routine respiratory virus testing panels should include influenza C detection.
Background:
Influenza C virus can cause both upper and lower respiratory tract infections and has been reported to be prevalent in children. However, these infections have been under-diagnosed, and epidemiological data available are limited due to the lack of convenient detection assays.
Objective:
Design and validate a real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR (rt RT-PCR) assay for the detection of influenza C.
Study Design:
Respiratory samples from two primary settings, namely, children who were hospitalized or seen in the emergency department, and respiratory outbreaks for which no other viral etiology was found were used for the detection of influenza C.
Results And Conclusions:
The assay was sensitive and specific for the detection of influenza C. Eleven of 474 (2·32%) patients, all less than 10 years of age, were positive for influenza C. The strains clustered into two lineages, namely C/Kanagawa and C/Sao Paulo, based upon sequencing of the hemagglutinin-esterase gene. Epidemiological data showed that a higher proportion of influenza C infections occur in younger children and during the winter months. This is the first report of the detection of influenza C in Alberta, Canada, and suggests that the detection of this virus should be included in respiratory virus testing panels.
