Open AccessClinical and Molecular Epidemiology of Human Parainfluenza Virus 4 Infections in Hong Kong: Subtype 4B as Common as Subtype 4A
Author(s) -
Susanna K. P. Lau,
Kenneth S. M. Li,
Kam-yu Chau,
LokYee So,
Rodney A. Lee,
YuLung Lau,
KwokHung Chan,
Wilina Lim,
Patrick C. Y. Woo,
KwokYung Yuen
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of clinical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.349
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1070-633X
pISSN - 0095-1137
DOI - 10.1128/jcm.00047-09
Subject(s) - subtyping , virology , molecular epidemiology , epidemiology , biology , human parainfluenza virus , virus , viral disease , paramyxoviridae , genotype , medicine , gene , pathology , genetics , computer science , programming language
In this 1-year study, 35 (1.2%) of 2,912 nasopharyngeal aspirates were positive for human parainfluenza virus 4 (HPIV4) by reverse transcription-PCR. Patients with HPIV4 infection were mainly young children and immunocompromised adults. In contrast to the reported predominance of HPIV4A infection, molecular subtyping revealed that 15 (44%) cases were caused by HPIV4B.