Detection of human rhinovirus C in fecal samples of children with gastroenteritis

Background: Despite recent discovery of the novel human rhinovirus species, HRV-C, little is known about the association of HRV-C in diseases other than respiratory tract infections. Objectives: To investigate the presence of HRV-C in fecal samples of children with gastroenteritis. Study design: 734 fecal samples from hospitalized children with gastroenteritis were subject to picornavirus detection by RT-PCR of the conserved 5'-NCR. Positive samples were subject to VP4 and 3D(pol) gene analysis for species determination. The clinical and molecular epidemiology of HRV-C and other picornaviruses was analyzed. Results: Picornaviruses were detected in 113 (15.4%) of 734 fecal samples from children with gastroenteritis by RT-PCR of 5'-NCR, with 58 containing potential HRVs and 55 containing other enteroviruses. PCR of the VP4 and 3D(pol) regions was positive in 21 and 19 samples respectively (both regions positive in 8 samples). Sequencing analysis showed the presence of HRV-C in four samples, and diverse picornaviruses including HRV-A (n = 2), HEV-A (n = 2), HEV-B (n = 2), HEV-C (n = 21) and HPeV (n = 2) in other samples, with co-detection of HRV-C and HPeV in one sample. Of the four children with HRV-C detected in fecal samples, three presented with diarrhea in the absence of respiratory symptoms, while one also had acute bronchiolitis. The four HRV-C strains from fecal samples belonged to the existing clade of diverse HRV-C genotypes, indistinguishable from previous respiratory strains. Conclusions: HRV-C can be detected in fecal samples of children with gastroenteritis, in the absence of respiratory symptoms. This study also represented the first to detect HPeV in our population. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.