Human metapneumovirus in children with acute respiratory tract infections in Suzhou, China 2005–2006

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the seasonal distribution of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection in the Suzhou area of China, to discuss the epidemiological and clinical features of the disease, and to examine the genetic variation of the virus in China. From November 2005 to October 2006, a total of 1932 children with acute respiratory infections, admitted to the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, were tested for the presence of hMPV using a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Of the 1932 collected samples, 128 (6.6%) tested positive for hMPV. Most hMPV-positive cases occurred during November 2005 to March 2006, with sporadic activity through the whole season. The main reported clinical manifestations in the children with hMPV infection were fever, cough, rhinorrhoea, and wheezing. Clinical diagnoses included upper respiratory tract infection (1.6%), laryngitis (3.3%), bronchiolitis (41.5%), pneumonia (47.1%), and asthma exacerbation (6.5%). Sequence analysis of the hMPV N genes showed 99-100% homology with the registered sequence in GenBank. hMPV circulates in the Suzhou area of China y-round, peaking in the period of lowest temperature. Clinical characteristics and diagnoses associated with hMPV infection are similar to other respiratory viral infections. The gene sequence of hMPV in China is highly homologous to those reported in GenBank.