title: Comparison of human metapneumovirus infection with respiratory syncytial virus infection in children.
abstract: We aimed to validate a direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA) for the detection of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) from nasal swabs and to determine the incidence and clinical features of this viral infection in a pediatric population. One hundred twenty-one of 3026 nasal swabs were positive for hMPV by DFA (4.0%). Compared with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, the sensitivity and specificity of DFA were 90%, and 100%, respectively. Compared with RSV, hMPV infection was more common in children with congenital abnormalities, particularly those with cardio-pulmonary dysplasia and was associated with an increased ventilatory requirement.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Laboratories-Toronto, Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Sean X
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tellier
authors.forename: Rubeena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zafar
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Dena
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000821:virology; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity