Molecular epidemiology of human metapneumovirus from 2009 to 2011 in Okinawa, Japan.
To clarify the molecular epidemiology of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Okinawa  Prefecture, located in a subtropical region of Japan, we performed genetic analysis of the F gene  in HMPV from patients with acute respiratory infection from January 2009 to December 2011.  HMPV was detected in 18 of 485 throat swabs (3.7%). Phylogenetic analysis showed that 17 strains  belonged to subgroup A2 and 1 strain belonged to subgroup B1. We did not observe seasonal prevalence  of HMPV during the investigation period. A high level of sequence identity was observed in the strains  belonging to subgroup A2 (>95%), and no amino acid substitution was found compared with other strains  detected in Japan and other countries. The pairwise distance values among the present strains  belonging to subgroup A2 were short. Our results suggest that the predominant HMPV strains belonging  to A2 are highly homologous and seasonal epidemics were not seen in Okinawa during the investigation  period.
Department of Biological Science, Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment, 2085 Ozato, Nanjo-shi, Okinawa, Japan. nidairam@pref.okinawa.lg.jp
Minoru
M
Nidaira
Katsuya
K
Taira
Hirotsune
H
Hamabata
Tatsuyoshi
T
Kawaki
Kazuo
K
Gushi
Youko
Y
Mahoe
Noriyuki
N
Maeshiro
Yasuhito
Y
Azama
Shou
S
Okano
Hisako
H
Kyan
Jun
J
Kudaka
Hiroyuki
H
Tsukagoshi
Masahiro
M
Noda
Hirokazu
H
Kimura
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D012621:Seasons