Concurrent Circulation of Viral Agents in Pediatric Patients Presenting with Respiratory Illness and Diarrheal Symptoms in Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, Brazil, 2021

Abstract

Pneumonia and diarrhea are the leading causes of death in children under 5 globally, worsened by viral infections. This study investigates viral agents in children ≤ 3 years with respiratory illness and diarrhea in Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, Brazil, during spring 2021. Twenty paired samples (oropharyngeal swab and feces) were tested using in-house qPCR for HBoV and HAdV, RT-qPCR for RVA, EV, PeV-A, and NoV, and a commercial RT-qPCR kit for SARS-CoV-2, Flu A/B, and RSV. HAstV was detected with conventional nested (RT)-PCR. Positive samples were sequenced for molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis. Seven viruses were identified: HBoV, NoV, HAdV, PeV-A, EV, RSV, and Flu A. HBoV and NoV were detected in 75% of cases, with co-infection in 65% of patients, indicating their involvement in the gastro-respiratory illness. Genotyping of HBoV (HBoV-1), NoV (GII.4_Sydney[P16], GII.2[P16], and GII.4_Sydney[P31]), EV (Coxsackievirus A6), HAdV (species C, type 6), and PeV-A (genotype 1) showed local virus diversity. Phylogenetic analysis indicated no ongoing community outbreak, with distinct clusters observed. The findings highlight the overlap of respiratory and enteric diseases, revealing local viral diversity and high exposure to enteric viruses. This underscores the challenges in differential diagnosis and the need for syndromic surveillance.