Open AccessHigh prevalence of human metapneumovirus subtype B in cases presenting as severe acute respiratory illness: an experience at tertiary care hospital
Author(s) -
Jain Bhawana,
Singh Ajay Kr,
Dangi Tanushree,
Agarwal Anjali,
Verma Anil Kumar,
Dwivedi Mukesh,
Singh Kaleshwar P.,
Jain Amita
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the clinical respiratory journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.789
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1752-699X
pISSN - 1752-6981
DOI - 10.1111/crj.12064
Subject(s) - human metapneumovirus , medicine , metapneumovirus , epidemiology , human bocavirus , rhinovirus , pediatrics , virus , respiratory system , respiratory tract infections , virology , immunology
Purpose A comparatively newly discovered human metapneumovirus ( HMPV ) has emerged as an important cause of severe acute respiratory illness ( SARI ), second only to respiratory syncytial virus ( RSV ). RSV and HMPV taxonomically belong to same family and subfamily, and their clinical presentation and seasonal distribution are also seemed to be indistinguishable. Present study was planned to know the epidemiology and prevalence of HMPV and RSV in patients presented as SARI in a tertiary care hospital. Methods Nasopharyngeal aspirate of 440 patients fulfilling W orld H ealth O rganization criteria of SARI , enrolled during a 2‐year study period, were collected and tested for the presence of RSV , HMPV and their subtypes A and B by real time polymerase chain reaction along with other respiratory viruses, viz influenza A , B , parainfluenza 1, 2, 3, 4, adenovirus, measles virus and bocavirus. The demographic details, clinical profile, underlying diseases, clinical diagnosis at the time of admission and seasonal distribution were studied and analyzed statistically. Results Overall positivity of RSV was 14.3% (24.68% in <5 years) and of HMPV was 3.63% (5.1% in <5 years and 5.08% in 6–12 years). Among RSV , subtype A (89%), and among HMPV , genotype B (68.8%) were predominating. Adults having underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were more prone to acquire RSV and HMPV infections. RSV and HMPV positivity was restricted to winter season. We are reporting replacement of RSV with HMPV in this population. Conclusions HMPV has emerged as an important cause of SARI in children <12 years of age. Alternative predominance of RSV and HMPV is an important observation.