Annals of Clinical Microbiology, The official Journal of the Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology

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Indexed in KCI, KoreaMed, Synapse, DOAJ
Open Access, Peer Reviewed
pISSN 2288-0585 eISSN 2288-6850
Original article

Epidemiological Characterization of Respiratory Viruses Detected from Acute Respiratory Patients in Seoul

Heejin Ham1,2, Jungim Jang1, Sungsun Choi1, Seah Oh1, Sukju Jo1, Sungmin Choi1, Sonil Pak2

1Seoul Metropolitan Government Institute of Public Health & Environment, Gwacheon 2Kangwon National University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea

Corresponding to Heejin Ham, E-mail: hhj3814@seoul.go.kr

Ann Clin Microbiol 2013;16(4):188-195. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2013.16.4.188
Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology.

Abstract

Background: Viruses that cause acute respiratory infection include adenovirus (ADV), respiratory syncytial virus A and B (RSV(A), RSV(B)), influenza virus A and B (FluA, FluB), parainfluenza virus 1, 2 and 3 (PIV1, PIV2, PIV3), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), human coronavirus (hCoV), human rhinovirus (hRV), and enterovirus, among others.

Methods: Viral incidence was evaluated in acute respiratory patients in Seoul, Korea from 2010 to 2012. A total of 2,544 oropharyngeal swab specimens were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. RNA viruses (hRV, PIV, RSV, hCoV, and hMPV) and DNA viruses (ADV and bocavirus) were detected using the one-step reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) premix kit (SolGent, Korea) from January 2010 to June 2011, and using the real-time PCR kit (Kogenebiotech, Korea) from July 2011 to December 2012.

Results: Thirty-two percent (813/2,544) of specimens were positive; 31.9% (294/923) in 2010, 31.4% (232/ 738) in 2011, and 32.5% (287/883) in 2012. The most frequently isolated virus was hRV (40.7%, 331/813), followed by ADV (23.9%, 194/813), RSV (14.1%, 115/ 813), PIV (12.3%, 100/813), and hCoV (8.7%, 71/813). PIV1 was the most commonly isolated PIV, followed by PIV3 and PIV2, respectively. hCo OC43 was the most commonly isolated hCoV, followed by hCoV NL63 and hCoV 229E, respectively.

Conclusion: Information on respiratory viruses circulating in Seoul, Korea over the last three years will be helpful in the management of acute respiratory infections, and for larger-scale epidemiological studies. (Ann Clin Microbiol 2013;16:188-195)

Keywords

Polymerase chain reaction, Respiratory tract infections, Seoul, Viruses