Detectable Respiratory Viruses IgM and IgG Antibodies among Children with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria

Globally, in children, less than 5 years of age, acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Long-lasting immunity is not induced by respiratory infections as reinfection can occur throughout life. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of six respiratory viruses specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in children with ARTIs in Owo, Ondo State. The sera samples of two hundred (200) subjects who consented to participate in the study were collected and tested using serum-specific Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kits, anti-immunoglobulin M (IgM) and anti-immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to the influenza A virus (FLU-A), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), coronavirus (CoV), rhinovirus (RV) and adenovirus (AdV) respectively (IgM and IgG ELISA Kits; Melsin Medical Co., China). The mean age of the subjects tested was 3.49±1.41. The total IgM seropositivity was detected in 83% of the children with the highest being AdV 91 (45.5%), followed by PIV 89 (44.5%), FLU-A and RV with 88 (44%) respectively, CoV 85 (42.5%), and RSV 80 (40%). The total IgG seropositivity was detected in 87.5% of the children with the highest being PIV 152 (76%), followed by RSV 135 (67.5%), RV 93 (46.5%), AdV 81 (40.5%), CoV and FLU A 76 (38%) respectively. The study revealed the presence of primary and secondary infection of respiratory viruses in Owo and the need for preventive and control measures against respiratory tract viruses are suggested.