title: Comparison of different cell lines and incubation times in the isolation by the shell vial culture of human metapneumovirus from pediatric respiratory samples.
abstract: We report a prospective study concerning the efficacy of LLC-MK2 (continuous monkey kidney cell), Hep-2, MDCK (Madin-Darby Canine Kidney), Vero and MRC-5 cell lines, by shell vial assay, and incubation time in the isolation of hMPV from pediatric respiratory samples. The overall sensitivity of the cell lines studied were: 100% for the LLC-MK2, 68.7% for the Hep-2, 28.1% for the Vero, 3.1% for the MDCK and 0% for the MRC-5. Only one strain (3.1%) showed growth in the four cell lines studied and 10 (31.2%) strains only grew in the LLC-MK2 cell line. The analysis of incubation times showed that only 14 strains (43.7%) were able to grow after 3 days of incubation, while all strains (100%) showed growth after 5 days. The use of shell vials with commercial LLC-MK2 cells could be a method for isolating hMPV from respiratory samples in the pediatric population.
authors.affiliation: Virology Unit, Clinical Microbiology Service, University Hospital Son Dureta, Andrea Doria 55, 07014 Palma de Mallorca, Spain. jreina@hsd.es
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reina
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferres
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alcoceba
authors.forename: Aina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mena
authors.forename: Enrique Ruiz
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: de Gopegui
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Figuerola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000821:virology*; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014776:Virus Cultivation