Clinical Characteristics of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Subgroup Infections in Japan

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The subgroup characteristics of 130 strains of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) isolated in Sapporo during 9 epidemic years 1980–1989 were determined. Monoclonal antibodies raised against the RSV Long strains were used. Subgroup A included 77 (59.2%) isolates and subgroup B 52 (40.0%) strains, while 1 strain was considered to be a variant of a subgroup A strain. The distribution by age of infants and children was different for the 2 subgroups: < 1 year of age infants with subgroup A infection dominated, > 1 year of age subgroup A infections were less common than subgroup B infections. These was no difference in type of illness between the subgroups. Bronchiolitis was the dominant diagnosis in all patients.