Spectrum of viruses and atypical bacteria in intercontinental air travelers with symptoms of acute respiratory infection.

Full Abstract

Respiratory infections after air travel are frequent, but epidemiological data are incomplete. Using sensitive polymerase chain reactions, we studied the spectrum of atypical bacteria and respiratory viruses in travelers fulfilling the case definition of severe acute respiratory syndrome. A pathogen was identified in 67 travelers (43.2%). Influenza and parainfluenza viruses were most prevalent, at 14.2% and 15.5%, respectively. Prevalences of adenoviruses, human metapneumovirus, coronaviruses, and rhinoviruses ranged between 2.6% and 4.8%. Human bocavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and Legionella, Mycoplasma, and Chlamydophila species were absent or appeared at frequencies of <1%. To our knowledge, these are the first specific baseline data for the mentioned agents in the context of air travel.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Luna, Luciano Kleber de Souza (LK); Panning, Marcus (M); Grywna, Klaus (K); Pfefferle, Susanne (S); Drosten, Christian (C);

Affiliation: Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The Journal of infectious diseases (J Infect Dis), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Mar; vol 195 (issue 5) : pp 675-9

Dates: Created 2007/01/30; Completed 2007/04/10; Revised 2007/04/27;

PMID: 17262708, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: J Infect Dis. 2007 Mar 1;195(5):621-2. (PMID: 17262701)

ErratumIn: J Infect Dis. 2007 Apr 15;195(8):1237.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Aged
Aircraft
Bacteria - classification; isolation & purification
Bacterial Infections - epidemiology; microbiology
Child

Child, Preschool
Humans
Infant
Middle Aged
Respiratory Tract Infections - virology
Travel
Virus Diseases - epidemiology; virology
Viruses - classification; isolation & purification

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.