Interference between rhinovirus and other RNA respiratory viruses in the first 2-years of life: A longitudinal community-based birth cohort study

Background: Cross-sectional studies report negative associations between rhinovirus and other RNA respiratory viruses. However, longitudinal studies with frequent, serial sampling are needed to identify the directionality of this relationship and its nature. Objective: To investigate the association between rhinovirus and other RNA respiratory viruses detected 1-week apart. Methods: The Observational Research in Childhood Infectious Diseases cohort study was conducted in Brisbane, Australia (2010–2014). Parents collected nasal swabs weekly from birth until age 2-years. Swabs were analysed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The association between new rhinovirus detections and five other RNA viruses (influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza viruses, seasonal human coronaviruses, and human metapneumovirus) in paired swabs 1-week apart were investigated. Results: Overall, 157 children provided 8,101 swabs, from which 4,672 paired swabs 1-week apart were analysed. New rhinovirus detections were negatively associated with new pooled RNA respiratory virus detections 1-week later (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.48; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.13–0.83), as were pooled RNA virus detections with new rhinovirus detections the following week (aOR 0.34; 95%CI: 0.09–0.60). At the individual species level, rhinovirus had the strongest negative association with new seasonal human coronavirus detections in the subsequent week (aOR 0.34; 95%CI: 0.12[sbnd]0.95) and respiratory syncytial virus had the strongest negative association with rhinovirus 1-week later (aOR 0.21; 95%CI: 0.05[sbnd]0.88). Conclusion: A strong, negative bidirectional association was observed between rhinovirus and other RNA viruses in a longitudinal study of a community-based cohort of young Australian children. This suggests within-host interference between RNA respiratory viruses.