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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS), kidney failure and death.
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such asMiddle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV)andSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).The 2019 Novel Coronavirus, formerly known as 2019-nCoV and now known as SARS-COV-2, is a new strain of coronavirus that was first identified during 2019-2020 pandemic.
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes infectious hepatitis E in humans. Especially during floods in Southeast Asia in the monsoon season, hepatitis E can become an epidemic because it is transmitted by water and is also associated with animals as a reservoir of the pathogen. The risk group includes people with acute or chronic immunodeficiency, as well as people with immunodeficiency due to several previous illnesses. Another source of infection is blood transfusion, as donor blood (due to the absence of a cost-effective test procedure) is usually not tested for hepatitis E virus.
Adenoviruses are responsible for a variety of diseases. In most cases, these are ocular, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Urinary tract infections, hepatitis and meningoencephalitis are also possible. Adenovirus infections are found worldwide, at any time of the year.
Rotaviruses are the most common cause of viral intestinal infections in children. In western industrialized countries most often infants and children fall ill from the age of 6 months to 2 years. The disease occurs seasonally and is highest in the months of February to April.
The norovirus is characterized by a pronounced genome variability and is spread worldwide. They are responsible for a majority of non-bacterial gastroenteritis in children (approximately 30%) and in adults (up to 50%). Norovirus infections can occur all year round, with a seasonal peak occurring between October and March. Transmission occurs via the fecal-oral route or by oral ingestion of virus-containing droplets, which arise in the context of projectile vomit. This explains the very rapid spread of infection within retirement homes, hospitals and community facilities. For the detection of norovirus in the stool you will find the following diagnostic methods
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) occurs in humans and a variety of animals. However, the virus of one species is not transmissible to another species. CMV is widespread worldwide and is the most common viral agent of congenital infection. The virus can be present in tears, saliva, urine, genital secretions as well as breast milk and blood. In newborns who have been infected in utero, growth delays and especially hearing damage may occur. In addition, long term neurological damage is often observed. The laboratory diagnostics of a CMV primary infection essentially consists of a step diagnosis with antibody determination. Active CMV infection can also be confirmed by PCR detection, which also allows quantitative determination of viral load. (PDF: Alethia CMV)
Human enteroviruses are classified into four species (A, B, C and D), each subdivided into numerous serotypes: coxsackieviruses A and B, echoviruses, polioviruses, and many other enterovirus serotypes such as human enteroviruses 68-71. Enteroviruses primarily infect infants and young children and can be transmitted via the fecal-oral route, more rarely via droplet infection and contaminated water. Most enterovirus infections are asymptomatic or have mild cold-like symptoms. Due to the large number of enterovirus species, the clinical picture is broad in severe symptomatic diseases. In acute diseases, the diagnosis is preferably carried out by pathogen detection by nucleic acid amplification techniques.
Influenza is a highly contagious acute viral infection of the respiratory tract. It is a communicable disease easily transmitted from person to person through aerosol droplets excreted when sneezing and coughing. Common symptoms include high fever, chills, headache, cough, sore throat and malaise. The type A influenza virus is more prevalent and is the primary pathogen associated with serious epidemics. The type B virus causes a disease that is generally not as severe as that caused by the type A virus.
Human Parainfluenza viruses (HPIV) are enveloped, single-stranded RNA (ss-RNA) viruses which can cause both upper respiratory infections and lower respiratory infections. Parainfluenza viruses belong to the family of Paramyxiviridae and were identified in the late 1950’s in children with inflammation of the lower respiratory tract. In contrast to influenza viruses, which belong to the family of Myxoviridae, parainfluenza viruses do grow poorly in embryonated eggs and they share little antigenetic sites with influenza viruses.
RSV is spread worldwide and can lead to an infection of the upper and lower respiratory tract at every age. RSV is transmitted via smear or airborne transfection and patients show symptoms of rhinitis, cold, cough, acute bronchitis and inflammation of the middle ear. An acute presentation may occur during the presence of a bacterial super infection and, worldwide, around 600 000 people die yearly from either direct or indirect infection with RSV. Infants and small children often show an acute presentation, which requires hospitalization. Here, symptoms such as fever, cold and tachypnoe occur. 50 – 70 % of infants and small children have a RSV infection in at the age of one, whereas almost 100 % had a RSV infection after the age of two.
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