Human parechovirus infections, Lyon, France, 2008-10: evidence for severe cases

Abstract

Background: Although data documenting the frequency and severity of human parechovirus type 3 (HPeV-3) infection in infants have been published in Canada, the USA, the UK and the Netherlands, no data from France are available.

Objectives: To determine the detection frequency of HPeV in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples collected from children aged <5 years hospitalized between 2008 and 2010 in the University Hospital of Lyon and to describe the clinical, virological and biological characteristics associated with HPeV infection.

Study design: A total of 1128 CSF samples were retrospectively tested using the Parechovirus-Rgene™ real-time RT-PCR assay. Positive samples were typed by sequencing using the CDC method. Retrospective analysis of the medical charts was performed.

Results: Over a 3-year period, 33/1128 (2.9%) CSF samples were found to be HPeV-positive. In 2010, 9.3% of the children aged <3 months (32% in June) were detected HPeV-positive. The median age at diagnosis was 26 days (8-131 days). Most patients (86%) presented with fever or a sepsis-like syndrome. Three patients (2 with septic shock syndrome, 1 with severe respiratory distress) required hospitalization in an intensive care unit. An HPeV-3 acute infection was identified in an 11-day-old girl who died from sudden infant death syndrome. Of 29 patients genotyped, 28 were infected with HPeV-3 and one with HPeV-4.

Conclusions: HPeV is a significant cause of sepsis and severe sepsis in children <3 months. Routine screening for HPeV in CSF and blood should thus be performed more extensively and could improve clinical management.