The dominance of human coronavirus OC43 and NL63 infections in infants

Abstract

HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-OC43 infections occur frequently in early childhood, more often than HCoV-HKU1 or HCoV-229E infections. HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-NL63 may elicit immunity that protects from subsequent HCoV-HKU1 and HCoV-229E infection, respectively, which would explain why HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-NL63 are the most frequently infecting HCoVs. There are no indications that infection by one of the HCoVs is more pathogenic than others.

Trends of Human Coronaviruses in Yamagata, Japan in 2015–2016 Focusing on the OC43 Outbreak of June 2016

“…HCoV-NL63 accounted for 30 cases (2.2%), Generally, in temperate climates, HCoVs display marked winter seasonality and are not detected in the summer months, which is similar to the pattern observed for influenza viruses (6)(7)(8)(9)(10). In accordance with these reports, we also mainly detected HCoVs in winter in Yamagata, Japan, which is located in a temperate region, between 2010 and 2015 (2, 3).…”

Detection of the Human Coronavirus 229E, HKU1, NL63, and OC43 between 2010 and 2013 in Yamagata, Japan

“…Our results also indicated that the frequency of HCoV detection per year ranged from 3.5z in 2013 to 9.7z in 2012. The detection frequencies of HCoVs in respiratory samples reported in the literature are highly variable, ranging from 1.6z to 16.0z, depending on the country, study period, study population, and detection modality (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). The most commonly observed HCoV in our survey was HCoV-NL63, whereas many previous studies reported a predominance of HCoV-OC43 (2,5-15).…”

“…HCoV-229E detection peaked in March 2013 (10.8z); however, it was detected at low levels throughout the study period. Many previous studies have also reported low frequencies of HCoV-229E compared with the frequencies of other HCoVs (2,3,(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(14)(15)(16)(17). HCoV-229E was mainly detected in spring, although the seasonal pattern of 229E could not be determined because of the small number of positive cases.…”

“…Four HCoVs (HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-NL63, and HCoV-HKU1) are associated with a wide range of respiratory illness, including common colds, and with high morbidity outcomes, such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis (1)(2)(3). These four HCoVs are found globally, although the frequency of detection of these HCoVs varies with geographical location (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). Poor growth and a lack of cytopathic effects on cell cultures have been major deterrents to HCoV research in the past (1).…”

Human Coronavirus in the 2014 Winter Season as a Cause of Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

“…Among the four known respiratory HCoVs, typically only one, or at least a predominant type, is found at a particular time and in a particular area. In early childhood, OC43 and NL63 are detected at a younger age and more frequently 56…”