[Detection of human metapneumovirus in children hospitalized for acute lower respiratory infection in Santiago, Chile].
BACKGROUND
Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has recently been described as a new causal agent of acute low respiratory infection (ALRI) in children. In South America, detection has been reported only in Brazil and Argentina.


OBJECTIVE
To detect hMPV in children hospitalized for ALRI in Santiago, Chile.


METHODS
Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect N gene of hMPV in 182 nasopharyngeal aspirates that were negative for common respiratory viruses, obtained from children hospitalized for ALRI during 2003.


RESULTS
Ten samples (5.4%) were positive, most of them detected during spring months.


CONCLUSIONS
Since hMPV was detected among infants with ALRI in Santiago, further studies on their prevalence should be done in South America.
Luchsinger
Vivian
V
Programa de Virología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. vluchsin@med.uchile.cl
Escobar
Carola
C
Avendaño
Luis Fidel
LF
D000208:Acute Disease; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction