Abstract
We describe here the results of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) detection by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) during two consecutive seasons, from December 2006 to February 2007 and from October 2007 to March 2008, performed in the National Laboratory of Influenza and Acute Respiratory Diseases, Bulgaria. A total number of 278 nasopharyngeal samples obtained from hospitalised children up to the age of five years were investigated for these two seasons. During the first season, the aetiological role of RSV was confirmed in 56 of 148 samples (37.8%) compared to 11 of 130 samples (8.5%) during the second season. Since the beginning of January 2008, RT-PCR for the detection of the recently identified human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has also been introduced in Bulgaria. This virus has been demonstrated as the aetiological agent in 13 out of 81 samples (16%) from children of the same age group. The use of RT-PCR allows the detection of a broader spectrum of viruses causing respiratory diseases, as well as better discrimination of the aetiological agents in clinically similar cases.
Highlights
Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) represent a considerable health problem in infants and children
Even if certain viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can be grown in cell culture, this method is not completely reliable and many scientists have begun to use reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to identify infection [21]
The diagnosis of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection is even more problematic, as the virus is difficult to isolate in cell culture [1,22]
Summary
Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) represent a considerable health problem in infants and children. Despite the great number of viruses causing ARIs (more than 200), influenza viruses of type A and B, respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV), parainfluenza viruses, and adenoviruses are indicated traditionally among the most important aetiological agents of respiratory system diseases. In addition to previously known viruses, a number of respiratory viruses have been recently identified as causative agents of lower respiratory illnesses in children: human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human coronavirus (HCoV-NL63), human bocavirus (HBoV) [1,2,3]. Children with underlying illnesses such as congenital heart disease and bronchopulmonary dysplasia are at increased risk for severe infections due to RSV. RSV is increasingly recognised as an important pathogen in other groups, including immunocompromised patients and the elderly [4,5,6]
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