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. 2012 Jul;54(3):235-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2012.04.008. Epub 2012 May 16.

Respiratory viral pathogens associated with lower respiratory tract disease among young children in the highlands of Papua New Guinea

Glenys R Chidlow  1 , Ingrid A Laing, Gerald B Harnett, Andrew R Greenhill, Suparat Phuanukoonnon, Peter M Siba, William S Pomat, Geoffrey R Shellam, David W Smith, Deborah Lehmann
Affiliations

Respiratory viral pathogens associated with lower respiratory tract disease among young children in the highlands of Papua New Guinea

Glenys R Chidlow et al. J Clin Virol. 2012 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRI) commonly result in fatal outcomes in the young children of Papua New Guinea (PNG). However, comprehensive studies of the viral aetiology of ALRI have not been conducted in PNG for almost 30 years.

Objectives: To determine the viruses associated with ALRI among children living in the PNG highlands using sensitive molecular detection techniques.

Study design: Pernasal swabs were collected routinely between 1 week and 18 months of age and also during episodes of ALRI, as part of a neonatal pneumococcal conjugate vaccine trial. A tandem multiplex real-time PCR assay was used to test for a comprehensive range of respiratory viruses in samples collected from 221 young children. Picornavirus typing was supported by DNA sequence analysis.

Results: Recognized pathogenic respiratory viruses were detected in 198/273 (73%) samples collected from children with no evidence of ALRI and 69/80 (86%) samples collected during ALRI episodes. Human rhinoviruses (HRV) species A, B and C were detected in 152 (56%) samples from non-ALRI children and 50 (63%) samples collected during ALRI episodes. Partial structural region sequences for two new species C rhinoviruses were added to the GenBank database. ALRI was associated with detection of adenovirus species B (p<0.01) or C (p<0.05), influenza A (p<0.0001) or respiratory syncytial virus (p<0.0001). Multiple viruses were detected more often during ALRI episodes (49%) than when children displayed no symptoms of ALRI (18%) (p<0.0001).

Conclusions: The burden of infection with respiratory viruses remains significant in young children living in the PNG highlands.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The detection (%) of adenovirus type B or C, influenza virus A and respiratory syncytial virus in children grouped by age (months) with no ALRI symptoms □ (n = 273) and during ALRI episodes ■ (n = 80). Significant associations with disease are marked *p < 0.05, **p < 0.005, ***p < 0.0005.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Picornaviruses detected (%) in samples collected from young children in the absence of ALRI □ (n = 273) and during ALRI episodes ■ (n = 80). HRV, human rhinovirus; HEV, human enterovirus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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