A 1-year experience with human metapneumovirus in children aged <5 years.
Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a recently discovered respiratory pathogen. We tested respiratory specimens for the presence of hMPV by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. These specimens were obtained over a 1-year period from children aged <5 years and had negative results by the direct fluorescent antibody test for respiratory syncytial virus, influenza A and B, parainfluenza viruses 1-3, and adenovirus. Overall, 54 (8.1%) of 668 individuals tested positive for hMPV. During March and April of the study period, hMPV was detected in 17.6% and 25.0% of specimens tested, respectively. At least 2 distinct genotypes of hMPV circulated during the study period. Fever, tachypnea, cough, rhinorrhea, retractions of the chest wall, and wheezing were common findings. Of hMPV-positive children, 60.4% were aged <12 months. hMPV accounted for a small but significant proportion of respiratory-tract disease in infants and children.
Esper
Frank
F
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8064, USA.
Martinello
Richard A
RA
Boucher
Derek
D
Weibel
Carla
C
Ferguson
David
D
Landry
Marie L
ML
Kahn
Jeffrey S
JS
D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012621:Seasons; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D012367:RNA, Viral