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An epidemic of respiratory syncytial virus in elderly people: Clinical and serological findings
Author(s) -
Agius G.,
Dindinaud G.,
Biggar R. J.,
Peyre R.,
Vaillant V.,
Ranger S.,
Poupet J. Y.,
Cisse M. F.,
Castets M.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.1890300208
Subject(s) - virology , serology , virus , respiratory system , medicine , pneumovirus , covid-19 , paramyxoviridae , viral disease , immunology , antibody , infectious disease (medical specialty) , disease
In 1984–1985, an outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection occurred in two geriatric wards. Among 68 patients (mean age ± SD = 82.5 ± 12.5 years) with respiratory signs, 52 had signs caused by RSV infection. Among all patients, the clinical and serological attack rates were 61.2% and 75.0%, respectively. The most frequent clinical presentation was intensive coughing (96.1%) and fever (96.1%) associated with expectorate (63.5%). The duration of the respiratory symptoms was 5 to 7 days. The disease gradually resolved, although in eight (15.4%) patients complications occurred. For periods of up to 1 year after infection, 172 sera were obtained and tested by complement fixation test (CFT), fluorescent assays for titrating specific IgG, IgA, and IgM, and Western blotting. Specific IgM appeared in six (11.5%) of the infected patients and peaked 2 to 6 months after infection, and there was no significant correlation with severity of clinical symptoms. However, higher peak G and A antibody responses were observed in persons with rales (CFT: P =0.008; IgG: P =0.042; IgA: P =0.020), cough (IgG: P =0.034), sputum (IgG: P =0.030), dyspnea (CFT: P =0.024), conjunctivitis (CFT: P =0.025), and bronchitis (CFT: P =0.018). The temporal patterns of IgA and CFT results were found to be similar, whereas IgG peaked later, i.e., between 2 and 6 months. The patients with the most severe symptoms had the highest antibody titers obtained by conventional tests and by Western blots. Thus, RSV can be an epidemic pathogen among elderly persons, although this illness is usually mild.