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. 2021 Jan:102:79-84.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.09.1473. Epub 2020 Oct 2.

Human respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, circulating in the winter season 2019-2020 in Parma, Northern Italy

Adriana Calderaro  1 , Flora De Conto  2 , Mirko Buttrini  3 , Giovanna Piccolo  4 , Sara Montecchini  5 , Clara Maccari  6 , Monica Martinelli  7 , Alan Di Maio  8 , Francesca Ferraglia  9 , Federica Pinardi  10 , Paolo Montagna  11 , Maria Cristina Arcangeletti  12 , Carlo Chezzi  13
Affiliations

Human respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, circulating in the winter season 2019-2020 in Parma, Northern Italy

Adriana Calderaro et al. Int J Infect Dis. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of respiratory virus infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), during the winter period December 2019 to March 2020, via a tertiary care hospital-based survey in Parma, Northern Italy.

Methods: A total of 906 biological samples from the respiratory tract were analysed by both conventional assays (including culture) and molecular assays targeting nucleic acids of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses.

Results: Overall, 474 samples (52.3%) were positive for at least one virus, with a total of 583 viruses detected. Single infections were detected in 380 (80.2%) samples and mixed infections were detected in 94 (19.8%). Respiratory syncytial virus (138/583, 23.7%) and rhinovirus (130/583, 22.3%) were the most commonly identified viruses, followed by SARS-CoV-2 (82/583, 14.1%). Respiratory syncytial virus predominated until February, with 129 detections; it then decreased drastically in March to only nine detections. SARS-CoV-2 was absent in the study area until February 26, 2020 and then reached 82 detections in just over a month. SARS-CoV-2 was found in mixed infections in only three cases, all observed in children younger than 1 year old.

Conclusions: This study showed a completely different trend between SARS-CoV-2 and the 'common' respiratory viruses: the common viruses mostly affected children, without any distinction according to sex, while SARS-CoV-2 mostly affected adult males.

Keywords: Culture; Diagnosis; Epidemiology; Molecular assays; Pandemic; Respiratory viruses; SARS-CoV-2.

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Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1
Figure 1
Infectious agents detected according to age, sex, and biological sample. (A) Distribution of single infections according to age and sex. (B) Distribution of mixed infections according to age and sex. (C) Detection of each viral agent according to age and sex. (D) Detection of each viral agent according to the type of biological sample analysed. Abbreviations: M, male; F, female; RSV, respiratory syncytial virus; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; RV, rhinovirus; CoV, coronavirus other than SARS-CoV-2; FLU, influenza virus (types B and A); PIV, parainfluenza virus; MPV, metapneumovirus; ADV, adenovirus; EV, enterovirus; BoV, bocavirus; NPA, nasopharyngeal aspirate; BAS, bronchial aspirate; SP, sputum; BAL, bronchoalveolar lavage; TS, throat swab; NS, nasal swab.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Temporal distribution of the detection of each virus. (B) Temporal distribution of the detection of SARS-CoV-2 alone. Abbreviations: RSV, respiratory syncytial virus; SARS-CoV-2, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; RV, rhinovirus; CoV coronavirus other than SARS-CoV-2; FLU, influenza virus (types B and A); PIV, parainfluenza virus; ADV, adenovirus; MPV, metapneumovirus; EV, enterovirus; BoV, bocavirus.
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