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. 2007 Oct:25:60-65.
doi: 10.1157/13111839. Epub 2009 Jan 6.

[Respiratory viruses: old and new. Review of diagnostic methods]

[Article in Spanish]
José María Navarro-Marí  1 , Mercedes Pérez-Ruiz  1
Affiliations

[Respiratory viruses: old and new. Review of diagnostic methods]

[Article in Spanish]
José María Navarro-Marí et al. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. 2007 Oct.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) of viral origin are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In addition to traditional viruses, such as the influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, parainfluenza viruses 1 to 4, and adenovirus, other viruses such as metapneumovirus, new coronaviruses (human coronavirus NL63 and HKU1 and severe acute respiratory syndrome [SARS]-coronavirus), and recently bocaviruses, have been identified as causal agents of ARI. Although most of these viral infections follow a benign and selflimiting course in healthy adults, the consequences for the health care systems increase when they involve children, the elderly, immunosuppressed individuals, or those with chronic underlying diseases. These viral infections are an important cause of hospitalization and death, mainly during the cold months of the year, and, from a social-health perspective, ARI are a drain on economic resources and a frequent cause of work absenteeism. Occasionally, some of these viruses may cause emergent world health problems, as has occurred with the influenza virus pandemic strain and SARScoronavirus. While classical diagnostic methods based on culture and antigen detection remain useful for traditional respiratory viruses, recently described viruses are diagnosed mainly by molecular amplification techniques.

Las infecciones respiratorias agudas de etiología viral se encuentran entre las principales causas de morbimortalidad infecciosa en el mundo. Junto a los virus tradicionalmente reconocidos, como los de la gripe, virus respiratorio sincitial, rinovirus, parainfluenza 1 a 4 y adenovirus, se han incorporado otros virus, como metaneumovirus, nuevos coronavirus (coronavirus humanos NL63 y HKU1 y coronavirus causante del síndrome respiratorio agudo grave [SRAG]) y, recientemente, los bocavirus. Aunque la mayoría de estas viriasis son clínicamente benignas y autolimitadas cuando afectan a adultos sanos, sus repercusiones sanitarias se incrementan cuando afectan a niños, ancianos o personas inmunodeprimidas o con enfermedades crónicas de base. Son una importante causa de hospitalización y defunción, fundamentalmente en los meses fríos y, desde el punto de vista sociosanitario, suponen un gran consumo de recursos económicos y una frecuente causa de absentismo laboral. Ocasionalmente, algunos de estos virus dan lugar a problemas sanitarios emergentes en todo el mundo, como sucede con las cepas pandémicas de gripe o el coronavirus asociado al SRAG. Si bien para los virus respiratorios tradicionales los métodos de diagnóstico clásicos, basados en el cultivo y la detección de antígenos, siguen siendo útiles, para los virus recientemente descritos el diagnóstico se realiza fundamentalmente por técnicas de amplificación genómica.

Keywords: Acute respiratory infection; Respiratory viruses; Virological diagnosis.

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