Prevalence of Human KI and WU Polyomaviruses in Children with Acute Respiratory Tract Infection in China

Abstract

The KI and WU polyomaviruses were found in 11 (2.7%) and 17 (4.2%) of 406 nasopharyngeal aspirates, respectively, from children with acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI). The phylogenetic analysis indicates that they are all in the same cluster as the prototype strains. Our findings suggest that they are common in children with ARTI in China.In 1971, two human polyomavirus species named BK and JC were first isolated (7, 12). These two viruses are ubiquitous in most human populations and can cause persistent subclinical infections in healthy individuals and then reactivate under immunocompromised conditions. Recently, two novel human polyomaviruses were found, KI polyomavirus (KIPyV) in 6 (1%) of 637 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) and 1 (0.5%) of 192 fecal samples in Sweden (2) and WU polyomavirus (WUPyV) in 43 (2%) of 2,135 patients with acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) in Australia and the United States (8).

WU polyomavirus infection among children in South China

“…The incidence of infection with WUPyV within acute respiratory tract infection was 2% in this population, similar to that in France [Foulongne et al, 2008], Germany [Neske et al, 2008], Canada [Abed et al, 2007], and North-eastern China [Yuan et al, 2008], but less than in Korea [Han et al, 2007]. Children 2-48 months of age were infected easily with WUPyV and developed acute respiratory tract infection, predominantly during winter and spring, similar to previous reports in other areas and countries [Le et al, 2007;Neske et al, 2008].…”

“…Previous studies have found that patients with WUPyV infection usually develop clinical symptoms, including fever, cough, panting, respiratory failure, confusion and nasal congestion, leading to the development of bronchial pneumonia, bronchiolitis and upper respiratory tract infection [Abed et al, 2007;Han et al, 2007;Le et al, 2007;Foulongne et al, 2008;Neske et al, 2008;Yuan et al, 2008]. In this study, these patients had cough (n ¼ 15, 100%), panting (n ¼ 8, 53.3%), fever (n ¼ 8, 53.3%), and loose stools (n ¼ 2, 13.3%), accompanied by high WBC counts (five cases) or lower WBC counts (one case).…”

“…WUPyV was identified from lower respiratory tract samples in 2007 . The prevalence rate of WUPyV infection varied from 0.4% to 7% among patients and asymptomatic individuals [Abed et al, 2007;Han et al, 2007;Foulongne et al, 2008;Lin et al, 2008;Neske et al, 2008;Yuan et al, 2008]. Although WUPyV has been associated with the development of respiratory tract diseases, little is known on whether this virus has spread to Southern China and the related clinical characteristics in patients with WUPyV infection.…”

Survey for the presence of BK, JC, KI, WU and Merkel cell polyomaviruses in human brain tissues

“…29 KIV and WUV have been found in respiratory secretions from different populations. 30,31 Moreover, a recent report demonstrated the presence of MCPyV in respiratory tract secretions from children and adults. 32 Kidney is the major site of persistence for both JCV and BKV, and high prevalence of JCV and BKV viruria have been reported from both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients.…”

Complete genome sequence of a KI polyomavirus isolated from an otherwise healthy child with severe lower respiratory tract infection

“…Detailed descriptions of otherwise healthy children with severe lower respiratory tract illness due to KIPyV have not been reported to our knowledge. Previous reports of children with KIPyV infections have lacked an assessment of the severity of illness, description of medical co‐morbidities, thorough assessment of potential viral, and bacterial co‐infections [Babakir‐Mina et al, ; Foulongne et al, ; Yuan et al, ; Rao et al, ] and complete genome sequence analysis of the virus. Descriptions of its role in patients with medical co‐morbidities are better described.…”