Role of Human Polyomaviruses in Respiratory Tract Disease in Young Children
Author Information
Author(s): Wattier Rachel L., Vázquez Marietta, Weibel Carla, Shapiro Eugene D., Ferguson David, Landry Marie L., Kahn Jeffrey S.
Primary Institution: Yale University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Do human polyomaviruses KI and WU cause respiratory tract disease in young children?
Conclusion
The study found that KI and WU viruses may not independently cause respiratory tract disease in young children.
Supporting Evidence
- KIV was detected in 2.2% of symptomatic children and not at all in asymptomatic children.
- WU was detected in 7.1% of symptomatic children and 6.3% of asymptomatic children.
- Co-infection with other respiratory viruses was common among KIV- and WUV-positive children.
Takeaway
The study looked at two viruses in young kids and found that they might not be the reason for their coughs and colds.
Methodology
Respiratory specimens from symptomatic and asymptomatic children were screened for KI and WU viruses using nested PCR.
Potential Biases
The co-infection rates may be underestimated due to the testing methods used.
Limitations
The study had only 15% power to detect a difference for KIV, which may limit the conclusions about its prevalence.
Participant Demographics
Children under 2 years of age.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.215
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.0%–4.3% for KIV; 95% CI 4.7%–10.2% for WUV
Statistical Significance
p = 0.215
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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