High genotypic diversity of Rhinoviruses obtained from Tunisian children with severe acute respiratory infection

Authors

  • Sondes Haddad-Boubaker Laboratory of Microbiology of Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital, Tunis, Bab Saadoun Square, Tunisia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9705-4387
  • Khaoula Mefteh Laboratory of Microbiology of Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital, Tunis, Bab Saadoun Square, Tunisia
  • Chaima Mejri Laboratory of Microbiology of Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital, Tunis, Bab Saadoun Square, Tunisia
  • Aida Bouaffsoun Laboratory of Microbiology of Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital, Tunis, Bab Saadoun Square, Tunisia
  • Awatef El Moussi Laboratory of Microbiology, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
  • Ilhem Boutiba Laboratory of Microbiology, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
  • Khaled Mnif Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Bechir Hamza Children's Hospital in Tunis, Tunisia
  • Amin Slim Laboratory of Microbiology, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
  • Amel Kechrid Laboratory of Microbiology of Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital, Tunis, Bab Saadoun Square, Tunisia
  • Hanen Smaoui Laboratory of Microbiology of Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital, Tunis, Bab Saadoun Square, Tunisia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4026-0259

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.12880

Keywords:

Rhinovirus, incidence, Type, Tunisia, SARI

Abstract

Introduction: Rhinoviruses (HRV) are among the leading causes of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI). Their burden and genetic diversity vary from one region to another and little is known in Northern African regions. This study describes epidemiological patterns and genotypic diversity of HRV in SARI cases during a two and half year’s study, in Northern Tunisia.

Methodology: A total of 271 SARI cases, admitted into the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Bechir Hamza Children's Hospital in Tunis, were collected between September 2015 and December 2017. The investigation concerned 104 samples positive for HRV and/or HEV (Human Enterovirus) obtained among these cases. Specific HRV and HEV detections were assessed by real-time PCRs. The HRV molecular typing was based on the VP4-VP2 genomic region analyses.

Results: Among the viral SARI cases, 33.5% and 12.3% were positive for HRV and HEV respectively. Molecular investigations showed high prevalence of HRV-A (63.3%) followed by HRV-C (30.6%) and HRV-B (6.1%) and high genotypic diversity with 27 types. HRV cases were mostly detected in toddlers younger than 6 months. A total of 16 cases (28%) were found with bacterial and/or viral co-infection. HRV-C infection and HRV-A with bacterial co-infection were associated with complicated infection. Some of the detected types showed a continuous circulation or turnover during an extended period. HRV-A101 and HRV-C45 were the most frequently detected types.

Conclusions: This study revealed, for the first time, the high HRV diversity in Tunisia, a North-African region. Specific phylogenetic investigations may help to evaluate their diversity and to trace their spread and epidemiological origin.

Author Biographies

Sondes Haddad-Boubaker, Laboratory of Microbiology of Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital, Tunis, Bab Saadoun Square, Tunisia

Assistant professor,PhD

currently working in the laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Reference laboratory for poliomyelitis and Measles foe EMRO region, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunisia

Khaoula Mefteh, Laboratory of Microbiology of Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital, Tunis, Bab Saadoun Square, Tunisia

Assistant Professor, MD

Laboratory of Microbiology, Bechir Hamza Children's Hospital in Tunis, Tunisia

Chaima Mejri, Laboratory of Microbiology of Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital, Tunis, Bab Saadoun Square, Tunisia

Master degree student

Aida Bouaffsoun, Laboratory of Microbiology of Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital, Tunis, Bab Saadoun Square, Tunisia

assistant Professor, MD

Awatef El Moussi, Laboratory of Microbiology, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia

Post-doctoral student

Ilhem Boutiba, Laboratory of Microbiology, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia

Professor, head of Laboratory of Microbiology, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia

Khaled Mnif, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Bechir Hamza Children's Hospital in Tunis, Tunisia

Associate Professor, MD

Amin Slim , Laboratory of Microbiology, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia

Professor, MD

Head of Laboratory

Amel Kechrid, Laboratory of Microbiology of Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital, Tunis, Bab Saadoun Square, Tunisia

Professor, MD

Head of laboratory

Hanen Smaoui, Laboratory of Microbiology of Bechir Hamza Children’s Hospital, Tunis, Bab Saadoun Square, Tunisia

Professor, MD

Head of laboratory

Downloads

Published

2021-05-31

How to Cite

1.
Haddad-Boubaker S, Mefteh K, Mejri C, Bouaffsoun A, El Moussi A, Boutiba I, Mnif K, Slim A, Kechrid A, Smaoui H (2021) High genotypic diversity of Rhinoviruses obtained from Tunisian children with severe acute respiratory infection. J Infect Dev Ctries 15:726–735. doi: 10.3855/jidc.12880

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 05: May 2021

Section

Original Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC