Human respiratory syncytial virus genomic and antigenic variants isolated in two hospitals during one epidemic, in Santiago, Chile.

BACKGROUND

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is a major cause of severe lower respiratory tract infection (LRI) in children. Distinct variants of the viruses have been described.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to compare the antigenic and genetic variability of HRSV strains recovered from infants admitted to two hospitals during one epidemic in a big city.

STUDY

DESIGN

We analyzed nasopharyngeal aspirates from 201 infants admitted for LRI to two hospitals during 2002 in Santiago, Chile. The analyses were carried out using a panel of monoclonal antibodies against G glycoprotein epitopes (EIA) and RFLP for N and G genes.

RESULTS

No differences in HRSV groups A/B and in N patterns distribution were observed among both hospitals. On the contrary, antigenic and genetic G patterns displayed a wide diversity of strains circulating during one epidemic, in one big city.

CONCLUSIONS

RSV variability assessment depended rather on the tool used for analysis than on the geographical location.