8 research outputs found
Characterization of human metapneumoviruses isolated from patients in North America.
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) was recently identified in The Netherlands and was linked to acute respiratory tract illness. In this study, 11 isolates from 10 patients with respiratory disease from Quebec, Canada, were tested by a reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction based on the fusion protein gene. Identified sequences were consistent with HMPV. The patients were 2 months to 87 years of age (median age, 58 years) and presented with acute respiratory tract illness during the winter season. Sequence studies of the nucleocapsid, fusion, and polymerase genes identified 2 main lineages of HMPV and cocirculation of both lineages during the same year. These findings support a previous finding that HMPV is a human respiratory pathogen that merits further study
Identifying the required knowledge elements for the effective detection, investigation, and prosecution of high technology crime: The perspective of academe
Clinical patterns and seasonal trends in respiratory syncytial virus hospitalizations in SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil Padrões clĂnicos e sazonalidade das hospitalizações causadas pelo vĂrus respiratĂłrio sincicial em SĂŁo Paulo, Brasil
The respiratory viruses are recognized as the most frequent lower respiratory tract pathogens for infants and young children in developed countries but less is known for developing populations. The authors conducted a prospective study to evaluate the occurrence, clinical patterns, and seasonal trends of viral infections among hospitalized children with lower respiratory tract disease (Group A). The presence of respiratory viruses in children's nasopharyngeal was assessed at admission in a pediatric ward. Cell cultures and immunofluorescence assays were used for viral identification. Complementary tests included blood and pleural cultures conducted for bacterial investigation. Clinical data and radiological exams were recorded at admission and throughout the hospitalization period. To better evaluate the results, a non- respiratory group of patients (Group B) was also constituted for comparison. Starting in February 1995, during a period of 18 months, 414 children were included- 239 in Group A and 175 in Group B. In Group A, 111 children (46.4%) had 114 viruses detected while only 5 children (2.9%) presented viruses in Group B. Respiratory Syncytial Virus was detected in 100 children from Group A (41.8%), Adenovirus in 11 (4.6%), Influenza A virus in 2 (0.8%), and Parainfluenza virus in one child (0.4%). In Group A, aerobic bacteria were found in 14 cases (5.8%). Respiratory Syncytial Virus was associated to other viruses and/or bacteria in six cases. There were two seasonal trends for Respiratory Syncytial Virus cases, which peaked in May and June. All children affected by the virus were younger than 3 years of age, mostly less than one year old. Episodic diffuse bronchial commitment and/or focal alveolar condensation were the clinical patterns more often associated to Respiratory Syncytial Virus cases. All children from Group A survived. In conclusion, it was observed that Respiratory Syncytial Virus was the most frequent pathogen found in hospitalized children admitted for severe respiratory diseases. Affected children were predominantly infants and boys presenting bronchiolitis and focal pneumonias. Similarly to what occurs in other subtropical regions, the virus outbreaks peak in the fall and their occurrence extends to the winter, which parallels an increase in hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases.<br>Os vĂrus respiratĂłrios sĂŁo reconhecidos como os mais frequentes patĂłgenos do trato respiratĂłrio inferior para lactentes e crianças de idade reduzida em paĂses desenvolvidos, mas o conhecimento sobre este fato Ă© menor nos paĂses em desenvolvimento.Os autores realizaram um estudo prospectivo para avaliar a ocorrĂŞncia, os padrões clĂnicos e a sazonalidade das infecções virais entre as crianças hospitalizadas com doença do trato respiratĂłrio inferior (grupo A). A presença de vĂrus respiratĂłrios na nasofaringe das crianças foi avaliada Ă admissĂŁo em uma enfermaria de pediatria. A cultura celular e a imunofluorescĂŞncia foram utilizadas para identificação viral. Exames complementares incluiram culturas de sangue e lĂquido pleural para detecção de bactĂ©rias. Dados clĂnicos e exames radiolĂłgicos foram anotados na admissĂŁo e durante o perĂodo de internação. Para avaliar adequadamente os resultados foi constituĂdo um grupo sem doença respiratĂłria para comparação. Com inĂcio em fevereiro de 1995, durante um perĂodo de 18 meses, 414 crianças foram incluĂdas - 239 no grupo A e 175 no grupo B. No grupo A, 111 crianças (46,4%) tinham vĂrus enquanto somente 5 (2,9%) apresentavam vĂrus no grupo B. O VĂrus RespiratĂłrio Sincicial foi detectado em 100 crianças do grupo A (41,8%), o AdenovĂrus em 11 (4,6%), o vĂrus Influenza em 2 (0,8%), e o Parainfluenza em uma criança (0,4%). No grupo A as bactĂ©rias foram encontradas em 14 casos (5,8%). O VĂrus RespiratĂłrio Sincicial estava associado a outro vĂrus ou bactĂ©ria em seis casos. Ocorreram dois surtos de VĂrus RespiratĂłrio Sincicial, com pico em maio e junho. Todas as crianças acometidas por este vĂrus tinham idade inferior a 3 anos, na sua maior parte menos de um ano de idade. O acometimento bronquial episĂłdico e difuso e/ou a condensação alveolar focal, foram os padrões clĂnicos mais frequentemente associados aos casos de infecção pelo VĂrus RespiratĂłrio Sincicial. Todas as crianças do grupo A sobreviveram. Em conclusĂŁo, foi observado que o VĂrus RespiratĂłrio Sincicial foi o patĂłgeno mais frequentemente encontrado em crianças hospitalizadas por doença respiratĂłria grave. As crianças afetadas eram predominantemente lactentes do sexo masculino com bronquiolite e pneumonias focais. De modo similar ao que ocorre em outras regiões subtropicais os surtos do vĂrus tĂŞm pico no outono, extendem-se ao inverno, e se acompanham de um aumento nas internações hospitalares por doença respiratĂłria
Characterization of a novel coronavirus associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome
In March 2003, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV) was discovered in association with cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The sequence of the complete genome of SARS-CoV was determined, and the initial characterization of the viral genome is presented in this report. The genome of SARS-CoV is 29,727 nucleotides in length and has 11 open reading frames, and its genome organization is similar to that of other coronaviruses. Phylogenetic analyses and sequence comparisons showed that SARS-CoV is not closely related to any of the previously characterized coronaviruses