Human metapneumovirus virus (hMPV) has recently been identified as an etiological agent of acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) in infants and children .The hMPV fusion protein (F) protein has been indicated to be a major antigenic determinant that mediates effective neutralization and protection against hMPV infection. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential role of hMPV as a causative agent of ARTI in children. Patients and Methods: 98 nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) specimens from 49 infants and children less than 5 years old affected by ARTI were analyzed for the presence of hMPV by direct immunofluorescence antibody (DFA) test and cell culture. Results: 11(22.4%) out of 49 children were positive for hMPV as detected by DFA and 3(6.1%) out of 49 children were hMPV positive as detected by cell culture. The mean age of hMPV infected children was 14.6 months (range from 2 to 36 months). The most common symptoms were coryza (80%), cough (63%), fever (52%), otalgia (34%), anorexia (28%) wheezing (13%). hMPV infected children were presented with upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) as well as lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), however LRTI was higher. Conclusion: hMPV was a common virus isolate in children between 2 to 36 months, hospitalized for respiratory tract infections. DFA is a rapid and valuable test for the diagnosis of hMPV infection in children. |
