Infections with human coronaviruses NL63 and OC43 among hospitalised and outpatient individuals in São Paulo, Brazil

Infections with human coronaviruses NL63 and OC43 among hospitalised and outpatient individuals in São Paulo, Brazil

Tatiane Karen Cabeça, Emerson Carraro, Aripuanã Watanabe, Celso Granato, Nancy Bellei

The incidence and clinical features of human coronaviruses (HCoVs) among Brazilian patients with respiratory illness are not well known. We investigated the prevalence of HCoVs among Brazilian outpatients and hospitalised patients with respiratory illnesses during 2009 and 2010. To identify the HCoVs, pancoronavirus and species-specific reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assays were performed. Five of 394 samples were positive for HCoVs (1.2%): 1/182 (0.5%) outpatients and 4/212 (1.8%) hospitalised patients. The OC43 and NL63 HCoVs were identified. Two patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. Underlying chronic disease was reported in cases and one diabetic adult died. HCoVs can cause lower respiratory infections and hospitalisation. Patients with pre-existing conditions and respiratory infections should be evaluated for HCoV infections.

2012

human coronavirus OC43, human coronavirus NL63, Respiratory tract infections

DOI: 10.1590/S0074-02762012000500020

Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz.

Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde

Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine, Microbiology

EN