Characteristics of human parechovirus and non-polio enteroviruses infections in children suspected central nervous system infections or sepsis in 2014 of Beijing

Abstract

Objective To better understand the characteristics of HPeV and NPEV infections by detecting HPeV and NPEV in cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) and blood samples. Methods A total of 543 CSF and 173 blood samples were collected from 600 children younger than 16 years old who were suspected as viral CNS infection or sepsis from January to December in 2014 in Beijing, in which CSF and blood samples were collected simultaneously from 116 children. Real-time RT-PCR and transcription-nested PCR (RT-nPCR) were performed to detect HPeV and NPEV. Results HPeV and NPEV were detected in 1.5% and 16.9% in 136 children diagnosed as CNS infectious diseases, 5.9% and 3.9% in 51 children diagnosed as sepsis, and 3.4% and 2.9% in 413 children with other diagnosis. HPeVs were mainly detected in children under 3 months of age, while NPEVs were frequently detected in children aged 3~<7 years. The majority of NPEV infections occurred in the period from July to September, while most of HPeV infections happened in November and December. Conclusions The data indicated that children with HPeV infections were younger than those with NPEV infections and that both HPeV and NPEV may cause CNS infections and sepsis in children. Key words: Human parechovirus; Non-polio enteroviruses; Central nervous system infections; Sepsis; Children