Human metapneumovirus in hospitalized children in Amman, Jordan

Abstract

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has recently been identified as an important cause of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in children worldwide. However, there is little systematic data on its frequency and importance as a cause of ARI in the Middle East. We conducted a viral surveillance study in children <5 years of age admitted with respiratory symptoms and/or fever at two major tertiary care hospitals in Amman, Jordan from 1/18-3/29/07. Nose and throat swabs were collected and tested for HMPV and other respiratory viruses by real-time RT-PCR. A total of 743 subjects were enrolled. Forty-four (6%) subjects were positive for HMPV, 467 (64%) were positive for RSV and 13 (1.3%) had co-infection with both HMPV and RSV. The frequency of HMPV in January, February, and March was4.1%, 3.0%, and 11.9% respectively. Clinical features associated with HMPV infection were similar to those of other respiratory viruses, except children with HMPV were more likely to present with fever than children not infected with HMPV. Children with HMPV and RSV co-infection were administered supplemental oxygen and were admitted to the ICU more frequently than children infected with HMPV alone or RSV alone, though these differences did not reach statistical significance. We conclude that HMPV is an important cause of acute respiratory infections in children in Amman, Jordan. Longer surveillance studies are needed to better understand the seasonal epidemiology of HMPV and to assess if co-infection with HMPV and RSV leads to more severe illness.

Detection of Human Metapneumovirus in Hospitalized Children with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Sulaimani Province, Iraq

“…RT-PCR was highly sensitive and specific for the detection of hMPV, making it a valuable and a competitive technique with immunofluorescent assay for the detection of the virus. The frequency of hMPV infections highlighted by this study showed some variations with those that have emerged from previously published studies in different countries [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. These variations in incidence among studies might reflect different epidemiological patterns of hMPV infections in different countries, which in turn might be related to environmental factors, geographical factors, differences in host genetic susceptibility, sampling techniques, detection methods, and/or different viral strains circulating in different geographical areas.…”

“…Other studies reported variable seasonal predominance. In a study done in China, spring was the main season [33]; in Jordan, the peak was reported in March [13]; in India, HMPV infection rate was at its peak in springsummer period of 2008-2009 and 2009-2010; and hMPV circulated predominantly during the winter-spring period of 2010-2011 [34].…”

Systematic review and meta‐analysis of respiratory viral coinfections in children

“…Corresponding authors of published papers were contacted for additional data if individual‐level data on children with and without comorbidities could not be separated. Published data were used if the corresponding author did not respond after two or more attempts to contact them.…”

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus not detected in children hospitalized with acute respiratory illness in Amman, Jordan, March 2010 to September 2012

“…Original and lysis buffer aliquots were shipped to Vanderbilt University on dry ice for testing by real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) for respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus, rhinovirus, influenza A and B, and parainfluenza virus one, two and three [10]. Samples tested by Vanderbilt that had no viruses detected were sent to the CDC for MERS-CoV testing and samples not previously tested for any respiratory viruses were tested for MERS-CoV at Vanderbilt.…”