Human metapneumovirus infection in hospital referred South African children.

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) was first described in Dutch children with acute respiratory symptoms. A prospective analysis of the epidemiology, clinical manifestation, and seroprevalence of hMPV and other respiratory viruses in South African children referred to hospital for upper or lower respiratory tract infection were carried out during a single winter season, by using RT-PCR, viral culture, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In nasopharyngeal aspirates from 137 children, hMPV was detected by RT-PCR in 8 (5.8%) children (2-43 months of age) as a sole viral pathogen, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in 21 (15%), influenza A virus in 18 (13%) and influenza B virus in 20 (15%). Pneumonia was diagnosed in seven children and upper respiratory tract infection in one of the hMPV-infected children. One hMPV-infected child was admitted to the intensive care unit in need of mechanical ventilation and one child was infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). No statistically significant differences were found between hMPV, RSV, and influenza virus infected groups with regard to clinical signs and symptoms and chest radiograph findings. The seropositive rate of hMPV specific IgG antibodies was 92% in children aged 24-36 months, the oldest seronegative child in our study was 7 years and 6 months of age. In conclusion, hMPV contributes to upper and lower respiratory tract morbidity in South African children.

IJpma FF ，Beekhuis D ，Cotton MF ，Pieper CH ，Kimpen JL ，van den Hoogen BG ，van Doornum GJ ，Osterhaus DM ... -  《JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY》

Human metapneumovirus infection in young children hospitalized with acute respiratory tract disease: virologic and clinical features.

Caracciolo S ，Minini C ，Colombrita D ，Rossi D ，Miglietti N ，Vettore E ，Caruso A ，Fiorentini S ... -  《PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL》

Human metapneumovirus and respiratory syncytial virus in hospitalized danish children with acute respiratory tract infection.

von Linstow ML ，Larsen HH ，Eugen-Olsen J ，Koch A ，Nordmann Winther T ，Meyer AM ，Westh H ，Lundgren B ，Melbye M ，Høgh B ... -  《scandinavian journal of infectious diseases》

Impact of human metapneumovirus in childhood: comparison with respiratory syncytial virus and influenza viruses.

This study evaluated the overall impact of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection in 1,505 children and their households, and compared it with infections due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza viruses. Nasopharyngeal swabs were used at enrollment to collect specimens for the detection of hMPV, RSV, and influenza virus RNA by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). hMPV was detected in 42 children (2.8%), RSV in 143 (9.5%; P < 0.0001 vs. hMPV), and influenza viruses in 230 (15.3%; P < 0.0001 vs. hMPV). Of the 42 hMPV-positive samples, one was also positive for RSV and six for influenza viruses, for a co-infection rate of 16.7%. Clinically, hMPV was identified only in patients with acute respiratory infection, whereas RSV and influenza viruses were also detected in patients with different clinical manifestations. Symptoms with statistically significant different proportions at presentation were fever (more frequent in the hMPV- and influenza-positive children) and wheezing with bronchiolitis or asthma exacerbation (more frequent among hMPV- and RSV-positive cases). The households of the hMPV- and the influenza-positive children had significantly more illnesses, needed significantly more medical visits, received more antipyretics, and missed significantly more work or school days than those of the RSV-positive children. Results show that hMPV is an emerging cause of acute respiratory infection in childhood, and may have a significant clinical and socioeconomic impact on children and their families.

Bosis S ，Esposito S ，Niesters HG ，Crovari P ，Osterhaus AD ，Principi N ... -  《JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY》

Comparison of human metapneumovirus, respiratory syncytial virus and influenza A virus lower respiratory tract infections in hospitalized young children.

Wolf DG ，Greenberg D ，Kalkstein D ，Shemer-Avni Y ，Givon-Lavi N ，Saleh N ，Goldberg MD ，Dagan R ... -  《PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL》