Novel Virus Influenza A (H1N1sw) in South-Eastern France, April-August 2009

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Abstract

Background

In April 2009, the first cases of pandemic (H1N1)-2009 influenza [H1N1sw] virus were detected in France. Virological surveillance was undertaken in reference laboratories of the seven French Defence Zones.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We report results of virological analyses performed in the Public Hospitals of Marseille during the first months of the outbreak. (i) Nasal swabs were tested using rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDT) and two RT-PCR assays. Epidemiological characteristics of the 99 first suspected cases were analyzed, including detection of influenza virus and 18 other respiratory viruses. During three months, a total of 1,815 patients were tested (including 236 patients infected H1N1sw virus) and distribution in age groups and results of RIDT were analyzed. (ii) 600 sera received before April 2009 and randomly selected from in-patients were tested by a standard hemagglutination inhibition assay for antibody to the novel H1N1sw virus. (iii) One early (May 2009) and one late (July 2009) viral isolates were characterized by sequencing the complete hemagglutinine and neuraminidase genes. (iiii) Epidemiological characteristics of a cluster of cases that occurred in July 2009 in a summer camp were analyzed.

Conclusions/Significance

This study presents new virological and epidemiological data regarding infection by the pandemic A/H1N1 virus in Europe. Distribution in age groups was found to be similar to that previously reported for seasonal H1N1. The first seroprevalence data made available for a European population suggest a previous exposure of individuals over 40 years old to influenza viruses antigenically related to the pandemic (H1N1)-2009 virus. Genomic analysis indicates that strains harbouring a new amino-acid pattern in the neuraminidase gene appeared secondarily and tended to supplant the first strains. Finally, in contrast with previous reports, our data support the use of RIDT for the detection of infection in children, especially in the context of the investigation of grouped cases.

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Most cited references 18

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Human Bocavirus and Acute Wheezing in Children

Tobias Allander, Tuomas Jartti, Shawon Gupta … (2007)

Abstract Background . Human bocavirus is a newly discovered parvovirus. It has been detected primarily in children with acute lower respiratory tract infection, but its occurrence, clinical profile, and role as a causative agent of respiratory tract disease are not clear. Methods . We investigated the presence of human bocavirus by quantitative polymerase chain reaction of nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens and selected serum samples obtained from 259 children (median age, 1.6 years) who had been hospitalized for acute expiratory wheezing. The samples were analyzed for 16 respiratory viruses by polymerase chain reaction, virus culture, antigen detection, and serological assays. Results . At least 1 potential etiologic agent was detected in 95% of children, and >1 agent was detected in 34% of children. Human bocavirus was detected in 49 children (19%). A large proportion of the cases were mixed infections with other viruses, but human bocavirus was the only virus detected in 12 children (5%). High viral loads of human bocavirus were noted mainly in the absence of other viral agents, suggesting a causative role for acute wheezing. In addition, infections that had uncertain clinical relevance and low viral loads were prevalent. Human bocavirus DNA was frequently detected in serum specimens obtained from patients with acute wheezing, suggesting systemic infection. Conclusions . Human bocavirus is prevalent among children with acute wheezing and can cause systemic infection. Results suggest a model for bocavirus infection in which high viral loads are potentially associated with respiratory symptoms and low viral loads indicate asymptomatic shedding. Therefore, quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis may be important for additional studies of human bocavirus.

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Sensitive and broadly reactive reverse transcription-PCR assays to detect novel paramyxoviruses.

Suxiang Tong, Shur-Wern Wang Chern, Yan. Li … (2008)

We have developed a set of reverse transcription-PCR assays for the detection and identification of known and novel paramyxoviruses in clinical specimens. Primers were designed from the conserved motifs of the polymerase pol gene sequences to detect members of the Paramyxovirinae or Pneumovirinae subfamily or groups of genera within the Paramyxovirinae subfamily. The consensus-degenerate hybrid oligonucleotide primer design and seminested or nested PCR assay design were used to enhance the breadth of reactivity and sensitivity of the respective assays. Using expressed RNA and 10-fold dilution series of virus-infected tissue culture isolates from different members of the family or genera, these assays were able to detect on average between 100 and 500 copies of template RNA. The assays were specific to the respective group of genera or subfamily viruses. This set of primers enhances our ability to look for novel viruses in outbreaks and diseases of unknown etiology.

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Simultaneous detection of influenza viruses A and B using real-time quantitative PCR.

R. Schuurman, P Schipper, Mitsouko van Assche … (2000)

Since influenza viruses can cause severe illness, timely diagnosis is important for an adequate intervention. The available rapid detection methods either lack sensitivity or require complex laboratory manipulation. This study describes a rapid, sensitive detection method that can be easily applied to routine diagnosis. This method simultaneously detects influenza viruses A and B in specimens of patients with respiratory infections using a TaqMan-based real-time PCR assay. Primers and probes were selected from highly conserved regions of the matrix protein gene of influenza virus A and the hemagglutinin gene segment of influenza virus B. The applicability of this multiplex PCR was evaluated with 27 influenza virus A and 9 influenza virus B reference strains and isolates. In addition, the specificity of the assay was assessed using eight reference strains of other respiratory viruses (parainfluenza viruses 1 to 3, respiratory syncytial virus Long strain, rhinoviruses 1A and 14, and coronaviruses OC43 and 229E) and 30 combined nose and throat swabs from asymptomatic subjects. Electron microscopy-counted stocks of influenza viruses A and B were used to develop a quantitative PCR format. Thirteen copies of viral RNA were detected for influenza virus A, and 11 copies were detected for influenza virus B, equaling 0.02 and 0.006 50% tissue culture infective doses, respectively. The diagnostic efficacy of the multiplex TaqMan-based PCR was determined by testing 98 clinical samples. This real-time PCR technique was found to be more sensitive than the combination of conventional viral culturing and shell vial culturing.

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Author and article information

Contributors

: Role: Editor

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): PLoS One

Journal ID (publisher-id): plos

Journal ID (pmc): plosone

Title: PLoS ONE

Publisher: Public Library of Science (San Francisco, USA )

ISSN (Electronic): 1932-6203

Publication date Collection: 2010

Publication date (Electronic): 17 February 2010

Volume: 5

Issue: 2

Electronic Location Identifier: e9214

Affiliations

[1 ]Unité Mixte de Recherche 190: Unité des Virus Emergents, Université de la Méditerranée et Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Marseille, France

[2 ]Laboratoire de Virologie, Pôle Hospitalier de Microbiologie et Maladies Infectieuses (Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Marseille), Marseille, France

[3 ]South Interregional Epidemiology Unit, French Institute for Public Health Surveillance, Marseille, France

Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore

Author notes

* E-mail: xavier.de-lamballerie@ 123456univmed.fr

Conceived and designed the experiments: DR RNC XdL. Performed the experiments: AN LN CZ CG. Analyzed the data: AN LN CZ KM NR RNC XdL. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: AN LN NS KM NR CG. Wrote the paper: AN LN XdL.

Article

Publisher ID: 09-PONE-RA-14193R1

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009214

PMC ID: 2822845

PubMed ID: 20174643

SO-VID: 18857ce5-42de-4a05-96a7-242e4f1de8d8

Copyright statement: Nougairède et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

History

Date received : 12 November 2009

Date accepted : 25 January 2010

Page count

Pages: 11

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Novel Virus Influenza A (H1N1sw) in South-Eastern France, April-August 2009

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Abstract

Background

Methodology/Principal Findings

Conclusions/Significance

Related collections

PLOS: COVID-19 pandemic

Most cited references 18

Human Bocavirus and Acute Wheezing in Children

Sensitive and broadly reactive reverse transcription-PCR assays to detect novel paramyxoviruses.

Simultaneous detection of influenza viruses A and B using real-time quantitative PCR.

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Cited by 8

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