The role of human metapneumovirus in upper respiratory tract infections in children: a 20-year experience.
BACKGROUND
The role that human metapneumovirus (hMPV) plays in the etiology of upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) in children over a period of many years has not been evaluated previously.


METHODS
By use of real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, we retrospectively tested nasal wash (NW) specimens for hMPV that had been obtained from a cohort of 1532 infants and children with URIs who were prospectively followed for an average of 2.4 years during the period from 1982 to 2001. Virus genes were sequenced, and prospectively collected clinical data were analyzed.


RESULTS
There were 2710 visits for URIs for which routine cultures did not reveal a viral etiology. Archival NW specimens from 2384 of these visits were available. hMPV RNA was detected in 118 (5%) of 2384 specimens. The mean age of the children with hMPV infection was 20 months, and 78% of illnesses occurred from December through May. Acute otitis media (AOM) was detected in 50% of these children. hMPV circulated each year, but the numbers of isolates detected varied by year. Reinfections with both homologous and heterologous strains occurred. Four distinct genetic lineages were present over the 20 years of surveillance, with several different lineages circulating during some seasons.


CONCLUSIONS
hMPV was detected in a substantial number of children with URIs and concomitant AOM.
Williams
John V
JV
Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. john.williams@vanderbilt.edu
Wang
Chiaoyin K
CK
Yang
Chin-Fen
CF
Tollefson
Sharon J
SJ
House
Frances S
FS
Heck
Josh M
JM
Chu
Marla
M
Brown
Jennifer B
JB
Lintao
Linda D
LD
Quinto
Joe D
JD
Chu
David
D
Spaete
Richard R
RR
Edwards
Kathryn M
KM
Wright
Peter F
PF
Crowe
James E
JE
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012621:Seasons
D012367:RNA, Viral