Abstract
BackgroundThe prevalence, symptom course, and shedding in persons infected with the 4 most common human coronaviruses (HCoV)‐229E, HKU1, NL63, and OC43 are poorly described.ObjectivesWe estimate their prevalence and associated symptoms among college students identified via a social network study design.Patients/MethodsWe collected 1‐3 samples (n = 250 specimens) from 176 participants between October 2012 and January 17, 2013: participants with acute respiratory infection (ARI; cough and body aches or chills or fever/feverishness) and their social contacts. Virus was detected using RT‐PCR.Results30.4% (76/250) of specimens tested positive for any virus tested, and 4.8% (12/250) were positive for 2 or more viruses. Human coronaviruses (HCoVs [22.0%; 55/250]), rhinovirus (7.6%; 19/250), and influenza A (6.4%; 16/250) were most prevalent. Symptoms changed significantly over time among ARI participants with HCoV: the prevalence of cough and chills decreased over 6 days (P = .04, and P = .01, respectively), while runny nose increased over the same period (P = .02). HCoV‐NL63 was the most frequent virus detected 6 days following symptom onset (8.9%), followed by rhinovirus (6.7%).ConclusionsDuring a 3‐month period covering a single season, HCoVs were common, even among social contacts without respiratory symptoms; specific symptoms may change over the course of HCoV‐associated illness and were similar to symptoms from influenza and rhinovirus.
Highlights
As demonstrated by the 2012 discovery of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Saudi Arabia,[1] human coronaviruses continue to emerge and may become significant public health problems
There are few prospective non-clinic-based studies describing the epidemiology of human coronaviruses 229E, HKU1, NL63, and OC43 and the changes in symptoms over time
Among the otherwise healthy young adults with acute respiratory infection (ARI) symptoms and a sample of their social contacts participating in this study during a single season, winter season, the prevalence of the 4 human coronaviruses (HCoV) combined was 19.7% among specimens from participants with ARI, 14.1% among social contacts with symptoms, and 6.7% among asymptomatic social contacts
Summary
As demonstrated by the 2012 discovery of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Saudi Arabia,[1] human coronaviruses continue to emerge and may become significant public health problems. MERS-CoV followed closely on the 2003 identification of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV).[2] Both viruses originated from animal reservoirs and cause significant mortality.[2,3,4] By contrast, 4 other human coronaviruses (HCoVs), 229E, HKU1, NL63, and OC43, already circulate. The prevalence, symptom course, and shedding in persons infected with the 4 most common human coronaviruses (HCoV)-229E, HKU1, NL63, and OC43 are poorly described. HCoV-NL63 was the most frequent virus detected 6 days following symptom onset (8.9%), followed by rhinovirus (6.7%). Conclusions: During a 3-m onth period covering a single season, HCoVs were common, even among social contacts without respiratory symptoms; specific symptoms may change over the course of HCoV-associated illness and were similar to symptoms from influenza and rhinovirus
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