Respiratory viruses and bacteria among pilgrims during the 2013 Hajj

Pilgrims returning from the Hajj might contribute to international spreading of respiratory pathogens. Nasal and throat swab specimens were obtained from 129 pilgrims in 2013 before they departed from France and before they left Saudi Arabia, and tested by PCR for respiratory viruses and bacteria. O...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Emerging infectious diseases 2014-11, Vol.20 (11), p.1821-1827
Main Authors: Benkouiten, Samir, Charrel, Rémi, Belhouchat, Khadidja, Drali, Tassadit, Nougairede, Antoine, Salez, Nicolas, Memish, Ziad A, Al Masri, Malak, Fournier, Pierre-Edouard, Raoult, Didier, Brouqui, Philippe, Parola, Philippe, Gautret, Philippe
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
bacteria
Bacteria - classification
Bacteria - isolation & purification
Causes of
Cohort Studies
cohort study
Demographic aspects
Distribution
Expedited
Female
France - epidemiology
Hajj
Health aspects
History, 21st Century
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
pilgrims
Prospective Studies
Public Health Surveillance
Religion
Respiratory tract infections
Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology
Respiratory Tract Infections - history
Respiratory Tract Infections - microbiology
Respiratory Tract Infections - virology
Saudi Arabia - epidemiology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Travel
viruses
Viruses - classification
Viruses - isolation & purification
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Summary:Pilgrims returning from the Hajj might contribute to international spreading of respiratory pathogens. Nasal and throat swab specimens were obtained from 129 pilgrims in 2013 before they departed from France and before they left Saudi Arabia, and tested by PCR for respiratory viruses and bacteria. Overall, 21.5% and 38.8% of pre-Hajj and post-Hajj specimens, respectively, were positive for ≥1 virus (p = 0.003). One third (29.8%) of the participants acquired ≥1 virus, particularly rhinovirus (14.0%), coronavirus E229 (12.4%), and influenza A(H3N2) virus (6.2%) while in Saudi Arabia. None of the participants were positive for the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. In addition, 50.0% and 62.0% of pre-Hajj and post-Hajj specimens, respectively, were positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae (p = 0.053). One third (36.3%) of the participants had acquired S. pneumoniae during their stay. Our results confirm high acquisition rates of rhinovirus and S. pneumoniae in pilgrims and highlight the acquisition of coronavirus E229.
ISSN:1080-6040
1080-6059
DOI:10.3201/eid2011.140600