title: Genetic diversity of human metapneumovirus over 4 consecutive years in Australia.
abstract: The molecular epidemiologic profile of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection has likely been skewed toward certain genetic subtypes because of assay-design issues, and no comprehensive studies have been conducted to date. Here, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to screen 10,319 specimens from patients presenting to hospitals with suspected respiratory tract infections during 2001-2004. After analysis of 727 Australian hMPV strains, 640 were assigned to 1 of 4 previously described subtypes. hMPV was the most common pathogen detected, and subtype B1 was the most common lineage. Concurrent, annual circulation of all 4 hMPV subtypes in our study population was common, with a single, usually different hMPV subtype predominating in each year.
authors.affiliation: Queensland Paediatric Infectious Disease Laboratory, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia. ian.mackay@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.forename: Seweryn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bialasiewicz
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McQueen
authors.forename: Katherine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Arden
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Nissen
authors.forename: Theo P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Sloots
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005814:Genes, Viral; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral