Silke Graul1, Sindy Böttcher2, Daniel Eibach3, Ralf Krumkamp4, Julia Käsmaier3, Yaw Adu-Sarkodie5, Jürgen May4, Egbert Tannich4, Marcus Panning6. 1. Institute of Virology, Medical Centre-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. 2. Robert-Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany. 3. Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany. 4. Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research, Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck, Germany. 5. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. 6. Institute of Virology, Medical Centre-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address: marcus.panning@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Little is known on human parechovirus (HPeV) infections in Africa. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the prevalence, genetic diversity, and association with diarrhea of HPeV in Ghanaian children. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 682 stool samples from a pediatric case-control study on causes of diarrhea collected in 2007-2008 were used. Laboratory analysis included HPeV real-time RT-PCR and sequencing partial viral protein (VP) 1 gene region of HPeV. In addition, data on co-infections using the xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel were available. RESULTS: Overall, a prevalence of 24% was found and 14 different HPeV types were detected. Phylogenetic analysis of the VP1 region indicated a novel type tentatively designated as HPeV-18. No association with diarrhea was found (OR=0.8; 95% CI: 0.5-1.1), and HPeV viral concentrations were not different among cases and controls. No seasonal pattern was observed. HPeV-positive cases displayed a slightly higher chance of co-infections. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence and genetic diversity of HPeV including novel types was found by sequencing partial VP 1 region. HPeV was not associated with diarrheal disease in this pediatric population and the high number of co-infection suggests transient colonization without clinical relevance.
BACKGROUND: Little is known on human parechovirus (HPeV) infections in Africa. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the prevalence, genetic diversity, and association with diarrhea of HPeV in Ghanaian children. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 682 stool samples from a pediatric case-control study on causes of diarrhea collected in 2007-2008 were used. Laboratory analysis included HPeV real-time RT-PCR and sequencing partial viral protein (VP) 1 gene region of HPeV. In addition, data on co-infections using the xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel were available. RESULTS: Overall, a prevalence of 24% was found and 14 different HPeV types were detected. Phylogenetic analysis of the VP1 region indicated a novel type tentatively designated as HPeV-18. No association with diarrhea was found (OR=0.8; 95% CI: 0.5-1.1), and HPeV viral concentrations were not different among cases and controls. No seasonal pattern was observed. HPeV-positive cases displayed a slightly higher chance of co-infections. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence and genetic diversity of HPeV including novel types was found by sequencing partial VP 1 region. HPeV was not associated with diarrheal disease in this pediatric population and the high number of co-infection suggests transient colonization without clinical relevance.
Authors: Milton T Mogotsi; Peter N Mwangi; Phillip A Bester; M Jeffrey Mphahlele; Mapaseka L Seheri; Hester G O'Neill; Martin M Nyaga Journal: Viruses Date: 2020-11-05 Impact factor: 5.048
Authors: Felix Weinreich; Andreas Hahn; Kirsten Alexandra Eberhardt; Simone Kann; Thomas Köller; Philipp Warnke; Susann Dupke; Denise Dekker; Jürgen May; Hagen Frickmann; Ulrike Loderstädt Journal: Diagnostics (Basel) Date: 2022-04-16