Influenza and other respiratory viruses in three Central American countries

Victor A. Laguna-Torres, José F. Sánchez-Largaespada, Ivette Lorenzana, Brett Forshey, Patricia Aguilar, Mirna Jimenez, Eduardo Parrales, Francisco Rodriguez, Josefina García, Ileana Jimenez, Maribel Rivera, Juan Perez, Merly Sovero, Jane Rios, María E. Gamero, Eric S. Halsey, Tadeusz J. Kochel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Despite the disease burden imposed by respiratory diseases on children in Central America, there is a paucity of data describing the etiologic agents of the disease. Aims To analyze viral etiologic agents associated with influenza-like illness (ILI) in participants reporting to one outpatient health center, one pediatric hospital, and three general hospitals in El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua Material & Methods Between August 2006 and April 2009, pharyngeal swabs were collected from outpatients and inpatients. Patient specimens were inoculated onto cultured cell monolayers, and viral antigens were detected by indirect and direct immunofluorescence staining. Results A total of 1,756 patients were enrolled, of whom 1,195 (68.3%) were under the age of 5; and 183 (10.4%) required hospitalization. One or more viral agents were identified in 434 (24.7%) cases, of which 17 (3.9%) were dual infections. The most common viruses isolated were influenza A virus (130; 7.4% of cases), respiratory syncytial virus (122; 6.9%), adenoviruses (63; 3.6%), parainfluenza viruses (57; 3.2%), influenza B virus (47; 2.7% of cases), and herpes simplex virus 1 (22; 1.3%). In addition, human metapneumovirus and enteroviruses (coxsackie and echovirus) were isolated from patient specimens. Discussion When compared to the rest of the population, viruses were isolated from a significantly higher percentage of patients age 5 or younger. The prevalence of influenza A virus or influenza B virus infections was similar between the younger and older age groups. RSV was the most commonly detected pathogen in infants age 5 and younger and was significantly associated with pneumonia (p<0.0001) and hospitalization (p<0.0001). Conclusion Genetic analysis of influenza isolates identified A (H3N2), A (H1N1), and B viruses. It also showed that the mutation H274Y conferring resistance to oseltamivir was first detected in Honduran influenza A/H1N1 strains at the beginning of 2008. These data demonstrate that a diverse range of respiratory pathogens are associated with ILI in Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. RSV infection in particular appears to be associated with severe disease in infants in the region.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)123-134
Number of pages12
JournalInfluenza and other respiratory viruses
Volume5
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adenovirus
  • Central America
  • Enterovirus
  • Influenza
  • Respiratory viruses
  • Surveillance

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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