Respiratory syncytial virus in severe lower respiratory infections in previously healthy young Ethiopian infants

Abstract Background Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the commonest cause of acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in infants. However, the burden of RSV is unknown in Ethiopia. We aimed to determine the prevalence, seasonality and predictors of RSV infection in young infants with ALRI for the first time in Ethiopia. Methods We performed RSV immuno-chromatographic assay from nasopharyngeal swabs of infants, 29 days to 6 months of age. We included the first 10 eligible infants in each month from June 2018 to May 2019 admitted in a tertiary pediatric center. Clinical, laboratory and imaging data were also collected, and chi-square test and regression were used to assess associated factors with RSV infection. Results Among a total of 117 study children, 65% were male and mean age was 3 months. Bronchiolitis was the commonest diagnosis (49%). RSV was isolated from 26 subjects (22.2%) of all ALRI, 37% of bronchiolitis and 11% of pneumonia patients. Although RSV infection occurred year round, highest rate extended from June to November. No clinical or laboratory parameter predicted RSV infection and only rainy season (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 10.46 [95%. C.I. 1.95, 56.18]) was independent predictor of RSV infection. Conclusions RSV was isolated in a fifth of young infants with severe ALRI, mostly in the rainy season. Diagnosis of RSV infection in our setting require specific tests as no clinical parameter predicted RSV infection. Since RSV caused less than a quarter of ALRI in our setting, the other causes should be looked for in future studies.

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Respiratory syncytial virus prevalence in children admitted to five Kenyan district hospitals: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Paediatrics Open ◽

10.1136/bmjpo-2018-000409 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. e000409

Author(s):

Jacqueline Le Geyt ◽

Stephanie Hauck ◽

Mark Lee ◽

Jennifer Mackintosh ◽

Jessica Slater ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Single Centre ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Virus Prevalence ◽

District Hospitals ◽

Positive Rate ◽

Rsv Infection ◽

Syncytial Virus

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a leading cause of under-five mortality globally. In Kenya, the reported prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in single-centre studies has varied widely. Our study sought to determine the prevalence of RSV infection in children admitted with ARI fulfilling the WHO criteria for bronchiolitis. This was a prospective cross-sectional prevalence study in five hospitals across central and highland Kenya from April to June 2015. Two hundred and thirty-four participants were enrolled. The overall RSV positive rate was 8.1%, which is lower than in previous Kenyan studies. RSV-positive cases were on average 5 months younger than RSV-negative cases.

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Association of Viral Load With Disease Severity in Outpatient Children With Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

The Journal of Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/infdis/jiaa076 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 222 (2) ◽

pp. 298-304 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Erika Uusitupa ◽

Matti Waris ◽

Terho Heikkinen

Keyword(s):

Viral Load ◽

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Disease Severity ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Respiratory Illness ◽

Lower Viral Load ◽

Primary Analysis ◽

Rsv Infection ◽

Syncytial Virus ◽

Outpatient Children

Abstract Background There are scarce data on whether viral load affects the severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in outpatient children. Methods We analyzed the association between viral load and disease severity among children who participated in a prospective cohort study of respiratory infections. The children were examined and nasal swabs for the detection of RSV were obtained during each respiratory illness. Quantification of RSV load was based on the cycle threshold (Ct) value. For the primary analysis, the children were divided into 2 groups: higher (Ct < 27) and lower viral load (Ct ≥ 27). Results Among 201 episodes of RSV infection, children with higher viral load had significantly longer median durations of rhinitis (8 vs 6 days; P = .0008), cough (8 vs 6 days; P = .034), fever (2 vs 1 days; P = .018), and any symptom (10 vs 8 days; P = .024) than those with lower viral load. There were statistically significant negative correlations between the Ct values and durations of all measured symptoms. Conclusions Our findings support the concept that viral load drives the severity of RSV disease in children. Reducing the viral load by RSV antivirals might provide substantial benefits to outpatient children.

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Depletion of TAX1BP1 amplifies innate immune responses during respiratory syncytial virus infection

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00912-21 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Delphyne Descamps ◽

Andressa Peres de Oliveira ◽

Lorène Gonnin ◽

Sarah Madrières ◽

Jenna Fix ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cellular Protein ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Efficient Treatment ◽

Rsv Infection ◽

Syncytial Virus ◽

Nucleoprotein N

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the main cause of acute respiratory infections in young children, and also has a major impact on the elderly and immunocompromised people. In the absence of a vaccine or efficient treatment, a better understanding of RSV interactions with the host antiviral response during infection is needed. Previous studies revealed that cytoplasmic inclusion bodies (IBs) where viral replication and transcription occur could play a major role in the control of innate immunity during infection by recruiting cellular proteins involved in the host antiviral response. We recently showed that the morphogenesis of IBs relies on a liquid-liquid phase separation mechanism depending on the interaction between viral nucleoprotein (N) and phosphoprotein (P). These scaffold proteins are expected to play a central role in the recruitment of cellular proteins to IBs. Here, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen using RSV N protein as a bait, and identified the cellular protein TAX1BP1 as a potential partner of this viral protein. This interaction was validated by pulldown and immunoprecipitation assays. We showed that TAX1BP1 suppression has only a limited impact on RSV infection in cell cultures. However, RSV replication is decreased in TAX1BP1-deficient mice (TAX1BP1 KO ), whereas the production of inflammatory and antiviral cytokines is enhanced. In vitro infection of wild-type or TAX1BP1 KO alveolar macrophages confirmed that the innate immune response to RSV infection is enhanced in the absence of TAX1BP1. Altogether, our results suggest that RSV could hijack TAX1BP1 to restrain the host immune response during infection. Importance Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract illness in infants, still remains a medical problem in the absence of vaccine or efficient treatment. This virus is also recognized as a main pathogen in the elderly and immunocompromised people, and the occurrence of co-infections (with other respiratory viruses and bacteria) amplifies the risks of developing respiratory distress. In this context, a better understanding of the pathogenesis associated to viral respiratory infections, which depends on both viral replication and the host immune response, is needed. The present study reveals that the cellular protein TAX1BP1, which interacts with the RSV nucleoprotein N, participates in the control of the innate immune response during RSV infection, suggesting that N-TAX1BP1 interaction represents a new target for the development of antivirals.

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The Prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Children: Focus on Palivizumab

Clinical Medicine Therapeutics ◽

10.4137/cmt.s2072 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. CMT.S2072

Author(s):

Michael E. Speer ◽

Amy B. Good

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

The United States ◽

Humanized Monoclonal Antibody ◽

Post Marketing ◽

Rsv Infection ◽

Upper Respiratory ◽

Syncytial Virus ◽

One Year ◽

High Risk Infants

Recurrent upper respiratory infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory viruses occur throughout life. During the first 2 years of life, RSV infected children have up to a 40% risk of a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). In turn LRTI, including bronchiolitis, due to RSV is the most common cause of hospitalization among infants less than one year of age. While mortality from RSV infection has fallen over the last 2 decades, approximately 400-500 deaths occur annually in the United States again primarily in infants less than 1 year of age. Palivizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, has been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization in high risk infants if given monthly during RSV season. Post marketing safety surveillance originating from a variety of sources, mostly active surveillance, has confirmed the prelicensure safety profile of palivizumab. Other than very rare anaphylactic reactions (<1/100000), no significant adverse reactions have been noted.

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Seroepidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus infection in rural and semi-rural areas of the Littoral region of Cameroon

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-021-05838-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Henshaw Mandi ◽

Bekolo Cavin Epie ◽

Agnes Eyoh ◽

Sindhiya Jan ◽

Sue Ann Costa Clemens ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Acute Respiratory Infections ◽

Littoral Region ◽

Health Centres ◽

Rsv Infection ◽

Syncytial Virus

Abstract Background The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been established as a leading cause of acute lower respiratory illness (ALRI) in infants and children. In 2015, the global disease burden (GBD) study estimated that the overall RSV-ALRI mortality could be as high as 118,200, with most death occurring in low- and middle-incomes countries (LMIC). This study aimed to assess the burden of RSV infection among children less than 2 years with acute respiratory infections (ARI) in the Littoral region of Cameroon. Methods We carried out a cross-sectional study in seven health centres in the Littoral region of Cameroon. Venous blood was collected using serum separation tubes from eligible children who visited these health centres with acute respiratory infections. ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) testing was used to assess the seroprevalence of anti-IgM RSV for the total population and by selected demographic and health parameters and potential risk factors. Results The overall RSV-associated ARI seroprevalence was 33% (95%CI:23.6–42.3; 33/100 children). The only demographic factor significantly associated with RSV acquisition was age of 6 months and below (odds ratio: 7.54 (2.62, 23.36); p = 0.000). Children who were clinically diagnosed to be concomitantly infected with malaria had a lower risk of RSV infection (odds ratio: 0.38 (0.14, 0.95; P = 0.03). Conclusions The RSV burden is high among children less than 2 years with ARI in the Littoral region of Cameroon. There is a need for an effective public health RSV surveillance system with standard laboratory techniques and equipment to better understand the RSV disease age-specific incidence, seasonality, risk factors and RSV burden among patients in communities in Cameroon.

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Seroepidemiology of Respiratory Syncytial Virus infection in rural and semi-rural areas of the Littoral Region of Cameroon

10.21203/rs.3.rs-18010/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Henshaw Eyambe Mandi ◽

Solomon Abebe Yimer ◽

Cavin Epie Bekolo ◽

Agnes Eyoh ◽

Sindhiya Jan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Acute Respiratory Infections ◽

Littoral Region ◽

Elisa Testing ◽

Rsv Infection ◽

Syncytial Virus

Abstract Background: The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been established as a leading cause of acute lower respiratory illness (ALRI) in infants and children. In 2015, the global disease burden (GBD) study estimated that the overall RSV-ALRI mortality could be as high as 118200, with most death occurring in low- and middle-incomes countries (LMICs). This study aimed to assess the burden of RSV infection among children less than two years with acute respiratory infections (ARI) in the littoral region of Cameroon.Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study in seven health in the littoral region of Cameroon. Venous blood was collected using serum separation tubes from eligible children who visited these healthcare facilities with acute respiratory infections. ELISA testing was used to assess the seroprevalence of anti-IgM RSV for the total population and by selected demographic and health parameters and potential risk factors. Results: The overall RSV-associated ARI seroprevalence was 33% (95%CI:23.6-42.3; 33/100 children). The only demographic factor significantly associated with RSV acquisition was age of six months and below (odds ratio: 7.54 (2.62, 23.36); p=0.000). Children who were concomitantly infected with malaria had a lower risk of RSV infection (odds ratio: 0.38 (0.14, 0.95; P = 0.03). Conclusions: The RSV burden is high among children less than two years with ARI in the littoral region of Cameroon. There is a need for an effective public health RSV surveillance system with standard laboratory techniques and equipment to better understand the RSV disease age-specific incidence, seasonality, risk factors and RSV burden among patients in communities in Cameroon.

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Respiratory Syncytial Virus Resurgence in Italy: The Need to Protect All Neonates and Young Infants

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph19010380 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 380

Author(s):

Elena Bozzola

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Young Infants ◽

Wide Range ◽

Syncytial Virus ◽

Viral Respiratory Infections ◽

Viral Respiratory

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most prevalent cause of viral respiratory infections in children up to the age of 2 years and causes a wide range of clinical manifestations [...]

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Role of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Pediatric Pneumonia

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms8122048 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 2048

Author(s):

Sonia Bianchini ◽

Ettore Silvestri ◽

Alberto Argentiero ◽

Valentina Fainardi ◽

Giovanna Pisi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Young Children ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Supportive Therapy ◽

Respiratory Pathogens ◽

Single Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Rsv Infection ◽

Syncytial Virus ◽

Tract Infections

Respiratory viral infections represent the leading cause of hospitalization in infants and young children worldwide and the second leading cause of infant mortality. Among these, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) represents the main cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in young children worldwide. RSV manifestation can range widely from mild upper respiratory infections to severe respiratory infections, mainly bronchiolitis and pneumonia, leading to hospitalization, serious complications (such as respiratory failure), and relevant sequalae in childhood and adulthood (wheezing, asthma, and hyperreactive airways). There are no specific clinical signs or symptoms that can distinguish RSV infection from other respiratory pathogens. New multiplex platforms offer the possibility to simultaneously identify different pathogens, including RSV, with an accuracy similar to that of single polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the majority of cases. At present, the treatment of RSV infection relies on supportive therapy, mainly consisting of oxygen and hydration. Palivizumab is the only prophylactic method available for RSV infection. Advances in technology and scientific knowledge have led to the creation of different kinds of vaccines and drugs to treat RSV infection. Despite the good level of these studies, there are currently few registered strategies to prevent or treat RSV due to difficulties related to the unpredictable nature of the disease and to the specific target population.

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Alveolar-like Macrophages Attenuate Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13101960 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 1960

Author(s):

Bárbara N. Porto ◽

Michael L. Litvack ◽

Yuchen Cen ◽

Irene Lok ◽

Sheena Bouch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽

Viral Infections ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Type I ◽

Intratracheal Administration ◽

Cell Based Therapy ◽

Acute Lower Respiratory Infections ◽

Rsv Infection ◽

Syncytial Virus

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory infections in young children and infection has been linked to the development of persistent lung disease in the form of wheezing and asthma. Despite substantial research efforts, there are no RSV vaccines currently available and an effective monoclonal antibody targeting the RSV fusion protein (palivizumab) is of limited general use given the associated expense. Therefore, the development of novel approaches to prevent RSV infection is highly desirable to improve pediatric health globally. We have developed a method to generate alveolar-like macrophages (ALMs) from pluripotent stem cells. These ALMs have shown potential to promote airway innate immunity and tissue repair and so we hypothesized that ALMs could be used as a strategy to prevent RSV infection. Here, we demonstrate that ALMs are not productively infected by RSV and prevent the infection of epithelial cells. Prevention of epithelial infection was mediated by two different mechanisms: phagocytosis of RSV particles and release of an antiviral soluble factor different from type I interferon. Furthermore, intratracheal administration of ALMs protected mice from subsequent virus-induced weight loss and decreased lung viral titres and inflammation, indicating that ALMs can impair the pathogenesis of RSV infection. Our results support a prophylactic role for ALMs in the setting of RSV infection and warrant further studies on stem cell-derived ALMs as a novel cell-based therapy for pulmonary viral infections.

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Impact of RSV Coinfection on Human Bocavirus in Children with Acute Respiratory Infections

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics ◽

10.1093/tropej/fmy057 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 65 (4) ◽

pp. 342-351 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Huiming Sun ◽

Jiyang Sun ◽

Wei Ji ◽

Chuangli Hao ◽

Yongdong Yan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Clinical Features ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Human Bocavirus ◽

Acute Respiratory Infections ◽

Copy Numbers ◽

Rsv Infection ◽

Dna Copy Numbers ◽

Syncytial Virus ◽

Length Of Hospitalization

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to assess epidemiological and clinical features of human bocavirus (HBoV) coinfection with other viruses. Method Children coinfected with HBoV between January 2012 and December 2014 were enrolled and retrospectively reviewed. Result A total of 984 patients were stratified into five groups: HBoV infection alone (n = 249), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection alone (n = 649), HBoV coinfection with RSV (n = 28), with human rhinovirus (HRV) (n = 39) and with other virus (n = 19). Length of hospitalization was longer in HBoV coinfection with RSV group than HBoV (9.0 days vs. 7.0 days, p = 0.001), RSV (9.0 days vs. 8.0 days, p = 0.016) infection alone group. Pneumonia was more common in the HBoV coinfection with RSV group compared with the HBoV, RSV infection alone group, respectively (75.0% vs. 44.2%, 31.3%, p < 0.001). HBoV DNA copy numbers (383 000 copies/ml) were positively correlated with the length of hospitalization (r = 0.334, p < 0.001). Conclusion HBoV coinfection with RSV increases HBoV infection severity.

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