High frequency of repeated infections due to emerging genotypes of human respiratory syncytial viruses among children during eight successive epidemic seasons in Japan

J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Mar;49(3):1034-40. doi: 10.1128/JCM.02132-10. Epub 2010 Dec 22.

Abstract

In eight successive seasons (2001 to 2009), a total of 726 human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) infections from a total of 1,560 children with acute lower respiratory tract illness were identified. Molecular analysis of the attachment (G) protein gene confirmed that 52 (7.8%) children were infected more than once with any of the 3 genotypes of HRSV-A (genotypes GA5, NA1, and NA2) and/or 6 genotypes of HRSV-B (genotypes BA4, BA5, and BA7 to BA10). Repeated infections in 46 cases (82.1%) occurred in the next season, and only one case occurred in the same season (10-day interval). First infections were 33 (63.5%) HRSV-A cases and 19 (36.5%) HRSV-B cases, whereas second infections occurred in 35 (67.3%) HRSV-A cases and 17 (32.7%) HRSV-B cases. Third infections were attributed to 4 (100.0%) HRSV-A cases. Homologous subgroup reinfections were detected in 28 cases, 23 HRSV-A cases and 5 HRSV-B cases (P = 0.005), whereas homologous genotype reinfections were detected only for 5 HRSV-A cases (2GA5 and 3NA2) but not any HRSV-B case. Heterologous subgroup reinfections were detected in 28 cases, 12 cases from HRSV-A-to-HRSV-B reinfections and 16 cases from HRSV-B-to-HRSV-A reinfections. Genotypes NA1 and NA2 had higher numbers of heterologous genotype infections than did other genotypes. Our observations suggest that repeated infections occur more frequently in HRSV-A strains than in HRSV-B strains, and heterologous genotype reinfections occur more frequently than homologous genotype reinfections, especially in the case of the emerging genotypes NA1 and NA2 of HRSV-A strains that circulated in the community during our study period.

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Recurrence
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / virology*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / classification*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / genetics
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / virology
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • attachment protein G

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AB603443
  • GENBANK/AB603444
  • GENBANK/AB603445
  • GENBANK/AB603446
  • GENBANK/AB603447
  • GENBANK/AB603448
  • GENBANK/AB603449
  • GENBANK/AB603450
  • GENBANK/AB603451
  • GENBANK/AB603452
  • GENBANK/AB603453
  • GENBANK/AB603454
  • GENBANK/AB603455
  • GENBANK/AB603456
  • GENBANK/AB603457
  • GENBANK/AB603458
  • GENBANK/AB603459
  • GENBANK/AB603460
  • GENBANK/AB603461
  • GENBANK/AB603462
  • GENBANK/AB603463
  • GENBANK/AB603464
  • GENBANK/AB603465
  • GENBANK/AB603466
  • GENBANK/AB603467
  • GENBANK/AB603468
  • GENBANK/AB603469
  • GENBANK/AB603470
  • GENBANK/AB603471
  • GENBANK/AB603472
  • GENBANK/AB603473
  • GENBANK/AB603474
  • GENBANK/AB603475
  • GENBANK/AB603476
  • GENBANK/AB603477
  • GENBANK/AB603478
  • GENBANK/AB603479
  • GENBANK/AB603480
  • GENBANK/AB603481
  • GENBANK/AB603482
  • GENBANK/AB603483
  • GENBANK/AB603484