Human pegivirus -1 (HPgV-1) RNA frequency and genotype distribution in pediatric oncology patients with febrile neutropenia

Anielly Sarana da Silva; Gabriel Montenegro de Campos; Gabriela Marengone Altizani; Alice Chagas Barros; Dennis Maletich Junqueira; Simone Kashima; Sandra Coccuzzo Sampaio; Maria Carolina Elias; Marta Giovanetti; Carlos Alberto Scrideli; Svetoslav Nanev Slavov

doi:10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199479

Human pegivirus -1 (HPgV-1) RNA frequency and genotype distribution in pediatric oncology patients with febrile neutropenia

Virus Res. 2024 Oct 10:350:199479. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199479. Online ahead of print.

Affiliations

¹ Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, 14051-140, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
² Department of Childcare and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
³ Central Laboratory of the General Hospital of Ribeirão Preto, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, 14040-030, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
⁴ Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Virus Evolution, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Natural and Exact Sciences (CCNE), Federal University of Santa Maria, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
⁵ Center for Viral Surveillance and Serologic Evaluation (CeVIVAs), Butantan Institute, 05503-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
⁶ Department of Science and Technology for Humans and the Environment, University of Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Rome, Italy; Instituto Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, MG, Brazil; Climate Amplified Diseases and Epidemic (CLIMADE), Brasília 30190-002, DF, Brazil.
⁷ Center for Viral Surveillance and Serologic Evaluation (CeVIVAs), Butantan Institute, 05503-001, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39374843
DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199479

Abstract

Human Pegivirus-1, typically regarded as a commensal virus, exhibits high prevalence in humans. Its frequency and impact on oncologic pediatric patients with febrile neutropenia (FN), a frequent chemotherapy complication, remains unexplored. In this study, we assessed HPgV-1 RNA prevalence in pediatric patients experiencing FN. Blood samples were collected from 30 children, 15 presenting FN and 15 comprising a control group of either undergoing treatment or in remission. Overall, HPgV-1 RNA was detected in 23.3 % of samples (26.7 % among FN patients and 20.0 % among those under treatment or in remission). Phylogenetic analysis unveiled HPgV-1 genotype 2 predominance among these samples, the most prevalent strain circulating in Brazil. Our findings prompt crucial inquiries into the role of HPgV-1 RNA in FN: is it an incidental finding and if it can influences this clinical entity? Further investigation is imperative to elucidate HPgV-1 implications in vulnerable patients cohorts, potentially informing new approaches and understanding viral dynamics in immunocompromised populations.

Keywords: Febrile neutropenia; Human pegivirus-1; Oncology; Pediatric patients.