Epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus in children in Cyprus during three consecutive winter seasons (2010-2013): age distribution, seasonality and association between prevalent genotypes and disease severity

Epidemiol Infect. 2014 Nov;142(11):2406-11. doi: 10.1017/S0950268814000028. Epub 2014 Jan 24.

Abstract

This study reports the epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in hospitalized children in Cyprus over three successive seasons (2010-2013) and the association between prevalent genotypes and disease severity. RSV infections had a circulation pattern from December to March. Most RSV-positive children (83%) were aged <2 years. Genotyping of RSV isolates showed that during the first winter season of the study (2010-2011), the only RSV genotype circulating was GA2 (RSV-A), followed by genotype BA (RSV-B) in the next winter season with only few sporadic cases of GA2. During the last winter season of the study (2012-2013) the newly emerged RSV genotype ON1 (RSV-A) was virtually the only circulating genotype. Children infected with genotype ON1 suffered a significantly milder illness compared to infections with genotypes GA2 and BA with a higher percentage of BA-infected children requiring oxygen. Our findings are in contrast to the majority of published reports that suggest RSV-A causes more severe illness than RSV-B. Therefore, further investigation of the association between RSV genotypes and disease severity is required, as it might affect treatment strategies in the future.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Distribution
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cold Temperature
  • Cyprus / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Prevalence
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / genetics*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / genetics*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / isolation & purification
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Seasons*
  • Severity of Illness Index