TY - JOUR
T1 - Frequent Detection of Human Coronaviruses in Clinical Specimens from Patients with Respiratory Tract Infection by Use of a Novel Real-Time Reverse-Transciptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
AU - Van Elden, Leontine J.R.
AU - Van Loon, Anton M.
AU - Van Alphen, Floris
AU - Hendriksen, Karin A.W.
AU - Hoepelman, Andy I.M.
AU - Van Kraaij, Marian G.J.
AU - Oosterheert, Jan Jelrik
AU - Schipper, Pauline
AU - Schuurman, Rob
AU - Nijhuis, Monique
PY - 2004/2/15
Y1 - 2004/2/15
N2 - During the past years, human coronaviruses (HCoVs) have been increasingly identified as pathogens associated with more-severe respiratory tract infection (RTI). Diagnostic tests for HCoVs are not frequently used in the routine setting. It is likely that, as a result, the precise role that HCoVs play in RTIs is greatly underestimated. We describe a rapid, sensitive, and highly specific quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the detection of HCoV that can easily be implemented in the routine diagnostic setting. HCoV was detected in 28 (11%) of the 261 clinical specimens obtained from patients presenting with symptoms of RTI ranging from common cold to severe pneumonia. Only 1 (0.4%) of the 243 control specimens obtained from patients without symptoms of RTI showed the presence of HCoV. We conclude that HCoVs can be frequently detected in patients presenting with RTI. Real-time RT-PCR provides a tool for large-scale epidemiological studies to further clarify the role that coronavirus infection plays in RTI in humans.
AB - During the past years, human coronaviruses (HCoVs) have been increasingly identified as pathogens associated with more-severe respiratory tract infection (RTI). Diagnostic tests for HCoVs are not frequently used in the routine setting. It is likely that, as a result, the precise role that HCoVs play in RTIs is greatly underestimated. We describe a rapid, sensitive, and highly specific quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the detection of HCoV that can easily be implemented in the routine diagnostic setting. HCoV was detected in 28 (11%) of the 261 clinical specimens obtained from patients presenting with symptoms of RTI ranging from common cold to severe pneumonia. Only 1 (0.4%) of the 243 control specimens obtained from patients without symptoms of RTI showed the presence of HCoV. We conclude that HCoVs can be frequently detected in patients presenting with RTI. Real-time RT-PCR provides a tool for large-scale epidemiological studies to further clarify the role that coronavirus infection plays in RTI in humans.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=10744225794&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1086/381207
DO - 10.1086/381207
M3 - Article
C2 - 14767819
AN - SCOPUS:10744225794
SN - 0022-1899
VL - 189
SP - 652
EP - 657
JO - Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - Journal of Infectious Diseases
IS - 4
ER -