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Case Reports
. 2021;28(1):121-126.
doi: 10.15388/Amed.2021.28.1.21. Epub 2021 May 14.

First Detection of Human Coronavirus HKU1 in Greece, in an Immunocompromised Patient With Severe Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

Vasiliki Epameinondas Georgakopoulou  1 , Georgios Petsinis  2 , Konstantinos Mantzouranis  2 , Christos Damaskos  3 , Despoina Melemeni  2 , Aikaterini Gkoufa  4 , Serafeim Chlapoutakis  5 , Nikolaos Garmpis  6 , Pagona Sklapani  7 , Nikolaos Trakas  8 , Xanthi Tsiafaki  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

First Detection of Human Coronavirus HKU1 in Greece, in an Immunocompromised Patient With Severe Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

Vasiliki Epameinondas Georgakopoulou et al. Acta Med Litu. 2021.

Abstract
in English, Lithuanian

Human coronavirus HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1) is a RNA virus which gets in the human cells by binding to the receptor of N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid. Human Coronaviruses (HCoVs), including HCoV-HKU1, are globally found. HCoV-HKU1 is responsible for upper and lower respiratory tract infections, usually with mild symptoms. In severe cases, HCoV-HKU1 can cause life-threatening respiratory illness especially in vulnerable hosts such as elderly, children and immunocompromised patients. In Greece, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and influenza are the most common viruses causing respiratory tract infections. Traditionally, HCoVs are responsible for less than 3% of respiratory infections in Greek population. HCoVs 229E and OC43 have been shown to circulate in Greece. We report the first case of lung infection in an immunocompromised woman due to HCoV-HKU1, that has never been before detected in Greece. HCoV-HKU1 is related to severe disease even in healthy individuals and must be considered in the differential diagnosis of severe respiratory infections.

Santrauka. Žmogaus koronavirusas HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1) yra RNR virusas, jis patenka į žmogaus organizmo ląsteles, jungdamasis prie N-9-O-acetilneuramino rūgšties receptoriaus.Žmogaus koronavirusai (hCoVs), įskaitant HCoV-HKU1, yra aptinkami visame pasaulyje. HCoV-HKU1 sukelia viršutinių ir apatinių kvėpavimo takų infekcijas, tačiau paprastai simptomai yra nežymūs. Sudėtingu atveju HCoV-HKU1gali sukelti gyvybei pavojingą kvėpavimo takų ligą, ypač asmenims, priklausantiems pažeidžiamoms asmenų grupėms, pavyzdžiui, vyresnio amžiaus žmonėms, vaikams ir pacientams, kurių imuninė sistema yra sutrikusi. Graikijoje respiracinis sincitinis virusas (RSV) ir gripo virusas yra dažniausi virusai, sukeliantys kvėpavimo takų infekcijas. Tradiciškai hCoVs sukelia mažiau negu 3 % kvėpavimo takų infekcijų Graikijos populiacijoje. Paaiškėjo, kad virusai HCoVs 229E ir OC43 vyrauja Graikijoje. Straipsnyje pristatome pirmąjį plaučių infekcijos, kurią sukėlė HCoV-HKU1 moteriai, turinčiai sutrikusį imunitetą, atvejį, tokio niekada anksčiau nebuvo nustatyta Graikijoje. HCoV-HKU1 sukelia sunkią ligą net ir sveikiems asmenims ir į tai būtina atsižvelgti diferencinėje sunkių kvėpavimo takų infekcijų diagnostikoje. Reikšminiai žodžiai: HCoV-HKU1, žmogaus koronavirusai, pneumonija, imunosupresija.

Keywords: HCoV-HKU1; Human Coronaviruses; Immunosuppression; Pneumonia.

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Conflict of interest statement

None

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
A: Chest X-ray shows patchy diffuse infiltrates in both lungs mostly in the left lower lobe on admission. B: Chest X-ray shows diffuse lung infiltrates after two days of hospitalization. C, D: Chest Computed Tomography reveals diffuse ground glass opacities. E, F: Chest Computed Tomography reveals pleural effusion in both lungs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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