Minerva Pediatrica 2020 Jun 05

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4946.20.05738-2

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Lack of detection of HPyV12 DNA using real-time PCR in Italian infants with diarrhea

Valentina DAPRÀ, Ilaria GALLIANO, Marco RASSU, Cristina CALVI, Paola MONTANARI, Chiara MERLINO ✉, Massimiliano BERGALLO

Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin Medical School, Turin, Italy

BACKGROUND: HPyV12 was found in organs of the digestive tract, in particular the liver but also in colon, rectum and faeces. Until now, the prevalence of HPyV12 is not well.characterized.
METHODS: In this study, we investigate the presence of this novel polyomavirus DNA in stool specimens collected from under-five-year-old children with gastroenteritis compared to healthy infants. A total of 190 fecal specimens previously screened for Rotavirus (RV) and Adenovirus (ADV) and 80 fecal samples from healthy infants, were tested for HPyV12 DNA using a home-made real time PCR. All fecal specimens were tested for the presence of HPyV12 with specific primers and probes.
RESULTS: None of 190 (0%) episodes of acute gastroenteritis was associated with HPyV12. We did not detect HPyV12 DNA in any of 80 control subjects, as well.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study represents a pilot study aiming to clarify the current epidemiological pattern in pediatric italian patients regarding the novel and rare HPyV12. On the basis of our negative data and the recently observations reported in literature, doubts remain on human tropism of the HPyV12 and epidemiology: these issues need further investigations.

KEY WORDS: HPyV12; DNA detection; Gastroenteritis; Infants; Human polyomavirus