Presence Of hMPV Research Articles

Detection of the Emerging Human Metapneumovirus and Its Comparison with the Respiratory Syncytial Virus among Children with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus are respiratory pathogens that circulate worldwide. RSV is the most common cause of respiratory tract disease in children; where children < 3 years of age are usually affected. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of hMPV and RSV infections among children with acute respiratory tract infection and to compare their occurrence in children suffering from acute respiratory tract infection. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study carried out on 50 patients diagnosed as having acute respiratory infections. The included patients were children up to 6 years of age selected from hospitalized patients in Abo El-Reesh hospital. Throat swabs were obtained. The collected specimens were subjected to viral RNA extraction and tested for the presence of hMPV and RSV by real time PCR. Results: RSV was detected in 4 out of 50 (8%) of the studied cases, while hMPV virus was not detected among our studied patients. All detected cases were less than two years old (median age 6 months) with a statistically significant association between detection of the RSV and age ofpatients (P<0.05).There was no significant difference regarding the gender and the detection of the virus. Conclusion: Although hMPV is known as a cause of ARTI, it was not detected among our studied patients. RSV was detected in 8% of pediatric patients aged less than two years with ARTI

Detection of the Human Metapneumovirus and Its Comparison with the Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Malignant Pediatric Patients with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections

Background: Acute viral respiratory tract infections are a leading cause of illness in both children and adults. RSV is the most common cause of respiratory tract disease in children also hMPV was first isolated from children suffering from acute respiratory tract disease. The disease is more severe (sometimes lethal) in immunocompromised hosts Objective:The aim of the present study was to study the frequency of hMPV and RSV infections in children suffering from different types of malignancy with acute respiratory tract infection and to compare their occurrence in the studied patients. Methodology: This is a cross sectional study carried out on 50 malignant patients diagnosed as having acute respiratory infections. The included patients were children up to 6 years of age selected from hospitalized patients in National Cancer Institute. Throat swabs were obtained. The collected specimens were tested for the presence of hMPV and RSV by real time PCR. Results: RSV was detected in 6 out of 50 (12%) of the studied cases, while hMPV virus was not detected among our studied patients. All detected cases were less than two years old (median age 16 months) with a highly statistical significant association between detection of the RSV and age of patients (P<0.01). There was a statistically significant association betweenpatients with pneumonia and detection of RSV in the studied cases. Conclusion:RSV was detected in 12% of pediatricmalignant patients aged less than two years with ARTI, pneumonia was the most common presentation of ARTI in RSV infected cases.

Clinical analysis on human metapneumovirus infection in children with respiratory

Objective To analyze clinical features of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in children with respiratory tract infection,providing reference for better observation and treatment for children with respiratory tract metapneumovirus infections.Methods 1798 cases of acute respiratory infections from June 2008 to June 2010 were selected,and their fresh sputum were taken as respiratory specimens tested by the presence of hMPV with reverse-transcription polymerase Chain reaction(RT-PCR).PCR products of hMPV N gene from some patients were randomly selected for sequencing analysis,and the sequences of the nucleotides and amino acids were compared with those in the GennBank.The hMPV infection detection was made,peripheral blood routine check,chest X-ray,C-reactive protein,and clinical data were all recorded.Results 43 cases of hMPV were found (positive rate of 46.7％) in cases aged less than 6months,9 patients (9.8％) in 6 months to 1-year-old group,27 patients (29.3％) in 1 to 3-year-old group,10 cases (10.9％) in 3 to 7-year-old group,3 cases (3.3％) in 7 to 14-year-old group.The clinical manifestations of hMPV infection were as follows:cough (89.1％),fever (73.9％),pulmonary rales (51.1％),wheezing (33.7％),dyspnea (8％).Conclusion It shows that hMPV is associated with children suffering respiratory tract infections in some area in Guangzhou and it exits for the full year with infection peak of the epidemic from March to April in a year.The infection rate is higher in children aged less than 6months,there isn no specific clinical features in hMPV infection,with only fever,cough,or wheezing. Key words: Respiratory tract infections; Human metapneumovirus; Clinical manifestations

Usefulness of two new methods for diagnosing metapneumovirus infections in children

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is associated with acute respiratory tract infections, mainly in paediatric patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of two new commercial techniques available for the detection of hMPV in clinical samples from children: an enzyme immunoassay, hMPV EIA (Biotrin International Ltd), and a molecular assay, real-time RT-PCR (Pro hMPV Real Time Assay Kit; Prodesse). A total of 184 nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens from 173 children aged less than 5 years who were hospitalized with acute wheezing were analysed. Respiratory syncytial virus was detected in 27% of the samples, followed by influenza A virus (6%), parainfluenza virus (PIV)3 (2.2%), adenovirus (2%), PIV1 (1.1%), PIV2 (1.1%), and influenza B virus (0.5%). The presence of hMPV was tested in all samples, using the real-time RT-PCR and EIA. Real-time RT-PCR detected 13 hMPV-positive samples (8%), and EIA detected 17 (9.3%). When the EIA results were compared with those of real-time RT-PCR for the detection of hMPV, a good correlation was found (94%). A relatively low co-infection rate (15%) was observed in our patients. RT-PCR and EIA provide robust methods for the diagnosis of hMPV infection in children.

Presence of human metapneumovirus in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of critically ill patients

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a paramyxovirus that has been shown to cause respiratory infections in children, the elderly and immunocompromised patients. In this study we retrospectively evaluated the presence of hMPV in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of critically ill patients.

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

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.

Presence of human metapneumovirus in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples detected by means of real-time polymerase chain reaction

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a paramyxovirus causing symptoms of the respiratory tract infection comparable with those of respiratory syncytial virus. The virus can play a causative role in respiratory tract infection in infants, the elderly and immunocompromised patients. Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples obtained from patients with hematological malignancies suspected of pneumonia often do not result in the identification of a causative infectious organism. To investigate the potential role of hMPV, we analysed BALF samples of these patients for the presence of hMPV by means of real-time PCR.

Prevalence and clinical characteristics of human metapneumovirus infections in hospitalized infants in Spain

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV), a condition recently described in the Netherlands, causes lower respiratory infections, particularly in young children and among the elderly. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics of hMPV infections in hospitalized infants <2 years of age and to compare them to those of infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). A prospective study was conducted on the clinical characteristics of infants admitted to hospital for respiratory infection through 5 years. Simultaneous detection of influenza A, B, and C viruses, RSV, and adenoviruses was performed in clinical samples by multiple reverse transcription nested‐PCR assay. The presence of hMPV was tested in all samples using two separate RT‐PCR tests. Some respiratory virus was detected in 70.5% of the 1,322 children included in the study. hMPV was found in 101 of the positive nasopharyngeal aspirates (10.8%), and was the most common virus after RSV and rhinovirus. Peak incidence was found in March. Over 80% of children were <12 months. The more common diagnoses were bronchiolitis (49.5%) and recurrent wheezing (45.5%). Fifty‐four percent of cases required oxygen therapy and, one percent, assisted ventilation. Thirty percent were co‐infections, with clinical characteristics indistinguishable from single infections. Seventy‐one hMPV single infections were compared to 88 RSV single infections. hMPV infections were significantly more frequent than RSV in infants older than 6 months (P = 0.04). Recurrent wheezing was diagnosed more frequently in hMPV patients (P = 0.001). All other variables tested were similar, in both groups. hMPV was the third most frequent virus after RSV and rhinovirus in infants <2 years of age, hospitalized for respiratory infection, and was associated with bronchiolitis and recurrent wheezing. hMPV predominantly occurred in spring. Co‐infections were frequent and clinically similar to single infections and RSV infections. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Human metapneumovirus infections in hospitalised infants in Spain

Background: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) causes lower respiratory tract infections, particularly in young children and the elderly. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on the clinical characteristics of infants <2 years...

Human Metapneumovirus Infection in Adult Patients after Allogeneic Hemopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

The human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has been described as possible cause of respiratory disease in pediatric and adult subjects. There are not, however, data concerning the epidemiology and or the clinical impact of hMPV infection in adults receiving allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplant. We report the results of a prospective study aimed to asses the incidence of hMPV infection in patients undergoing allogeneic HSC transplant. We analyzed by reverse transcription PCR assay, the presence of hMPV in nasopharingeal aspirate (NPA) collected before transplant and on day 0, +15, +30, +60, +90, +180, +360 from transplant. Detection of hMPV RNA was based on two set primers pair located in the L and N genes. Amplified hMPV RNA was sequenced for genotyping in region N.Twenty patients with a median age of 37 yrs (range 25–58), receiving allogeneic HSC for hematological disorders (AML 11 pts, ALL 5 pts, MDS 2 pts, NHL and MM 1 pt each), entered the study. Six pts received transplant from an HLA identical sibling and 14 from an unrelated donor (MUD). As preparative regimen, 15 pts had a standard myeloablative conditioning regimen, and 5 received reduced intensity conditioning with Thiotepa and Fludarabine. Acute graft-versus-host-disease prophylaxis consisted of Cyclosporine A and Methotrexate. In 6 pts receiving MUD transplant, in vivo T depletion by ATG was performed. At transplant, all patients were in good performance status and none had signs of active acute respiratory disease. Of 20 patients, four had a prior history of pulmonary infection from agents different from hMPV.Of 49 NPA samples analyzed so far, 29 (59%) resulted hMPV-positive. Sequence analysis performed in 12 patents detected a virus genotype-A. Of 12 pts in whom 3 or more NPA samples were collected, 9 (45%) resulted positive for hMPV RT-PCR, with persistence of infection for a period ranging from 14 to 84 days. No patient, however, showed clinical signs of respiratory disease. These data indicate an high prevalence and a long persistence of asymptomatic hMPV infection in adults receiving allogeneic HSC transplant.

Human metapneumovirus in children with bronchiolitis or pneumonia in New Zealand.

To confirm the presence of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in New Zealand and establish its prevalence in selected paediatric patient groups. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected in two separate paediatric studies enrolling children clinically diagnosed with either bronchiolitis or pneumonia and tested for hMPV by polymerase chain reaction. Nucleic acid detection tests demonstrated 5.3% of paediatric bronchiolitis cases were positive for hMPV RNA and 2.7% of children admitted with pneumonia tested positive for hMPV RNA. The presence of hMPV in New Zealand has been confirmed in two selected paediatric patient groups, namely children diagnosed with bronchiolitis and pneumonia. These results indicate that hMPV is associated with a minority of cases of bronchiolitis or pneumonia in this patient group.