Background A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerging has put global public health institutes on high alert. Little is known about the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of human coronaviruses infections in relation to infections with other respiratory viruses. Methods From February 2017 to December 2019, 3660 respiratory samples submitted to Zhejiang Children Hospital with acute respiratory symptoms were tested for four human coronaviruses RNA by a novel two-tube multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays. Samples were also screened for the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 by reverse transcription-PCR analysis. Results Coronavirus RNAs were detected in 144 (3.93%) specimens: HCoV-HKU1 in 38 specimens, HCoV-NL63 in 62 specimens, HCoV-OC43 in 38 specimens and HCoV-229E in 8 specimens. Genomes for SARS-CoV-2 were absent in all specimens by RT-PCR analysis during the study period. The majority of HCoV infections occurred during fall months. No significant differences in gender, sample type, year were seen across species. 37.5 to 52.6% of coronaviruses detected were in specimens testing positive for other respiratory viruses. Phylogenic analysis identified that Zhejiang coronaviruses belong to multiple lineages of the coronaviruses circulating in other countries and areas. Conclusion Common HCoVs may have annual peaks of circulation in fall months in the Zhejiang province, China. Genetic relatedness to the coronaviruses in other regions suggests further surveillance on human coronaviruses in clinical samples are clearly needed to understand their patterns of activity and role in the emergence of novel coronaviruses. Supplementary information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12985-021-01562-8.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Human coronavirus, Hospitalized children, Phylogenic analysis, Acute respiratory infection, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus, Clinical characteristics, Epidemiology, Infection, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1, Gender, reverse transcription-PCR, Novel coronavirus, RNA, respiratory viruses, China, polymerase chain reaction, clinical samples, Region, Surveillance, HCoV, Lineage, HCoV-229E, reverse transcription, NL63, genomes, circulation, respiratory, multiplex, information, specimens, OC43, HKU1, human coronaviruses, HCoV-NL63, Analysis, Other respiratory viruses, Chain Reaction, significant difference, no significant differences, supplementary material, global public health, species, study period, specimen, circulating, novel coronaviruses, RT-PCR analysis, positive, HCoVs, PCR analysis, Zhejiang, acute respiratory symptoms, country, respiratory sample, common, polymerase chain, Occurrence, human coronavirus, clinical sample, Result, tested, Sample, occurred, assays, screened, coronavirus, majority, submitted, acute respiratory symptom, 【제목키워드】 Clinical characteristics, children, China, Zhejiang, human coronavirus,