title: [Characteristics of human metapneumovirus respiratory tract infection in children and the relationship between the infection and meteorological conditions].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the epidemiology of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection in children and its relations with meteorological conditions in Suzhou.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples obtained from 6655 children hospitalized with acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs) during the period from 2006 to 2009, were tested for virus pathogens. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained from the children according to a standard protocol and were tested for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza viruses (IFV) A and B, parainfluenza virus (PIV) types 1, 2, and 3 and adenovirus (ADV) with direct immunofluorescence assay. Samples were tested for hMPV with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Meteorological conditions including mean temperature, relative humidity, rainfall amount, sum of sunshine and mean wind velocity were collected monthly. The relationship between activity of the virus and meteorological conditions was analyzed by linear regression and stepwise regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Viral pathogens were identified in 32.2% of 6655 specimens. The positive rate of hMPV was 8.9%, RSV was 15.7%, IFV, PIV and ADV detection rates were less than that of hMPV. The annual positive rate of hMPV from 2006 to 2009 was 8.2%, 8.1%, 12.7%, 7.4% respectively (χ(2) = 33.23, P < 0.05). The hMPV positive rate of the four seasons was 11.6%, 7.6%, 4.7% and 11.7%, respectively, detection rate in winter and spring was significantly higher than those in summer and autumn (χ(2) = 74.67, P < 0.001). The positive rate of hMPV and the monthly mean temperature was moderately correlated (r = -0.43), and the monthly average rainfall (r = -0.29), monthly mean relative humidity (r = -0.27), monthly average sunshine duration (r = -0.11), the monthly average wind speed (r = -0.13) had low correlations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  hMPV was the second most common viral pathogen of acute respiratory tract infection in children in Suzhou, which prevailed predominantly in the winter and spring. Climatic factors, especially temperature and rainfall may affect the prevalence of hMPV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Suzhou University, Suzhou 215003, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Zheng-Rong
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yong-Dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Hong-Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Chu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yun-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Xue-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002980:Climate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D029121:Metapneumovirus; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D012621:Seasons