Human metapneumovirus in severe respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis

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Julie Greensill1, Paul S McNamara, Winifred Dove

  • 1University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Emerging Infectious Diseases
|March 20, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Human metapneumovirus coinfection is common in infants with severe respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis. This coinfection may contribute to the severity of the illness in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of severe bronchiolitis in infants.
  • The role of other respiratory viruses in exacerbating RSV bronchiolitis is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) coinfection in infants diagnosed with severe RSV bronchiolitis.

Main Methods:

  • Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 30 infants with severe RSV bronchiolitis was analyzed.
  • Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to detect hMPV M, N, and F gene segments.

Main Results:

  • Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) genetic material was detected in 70% of the infants studied.
  • A high rate of hMPV coinfection was observed in infants with severe RSV bronchiolitis.

Conclusions:

  • Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) coinfection is prevalent in infants with severe RSV bronchiolitis.
  • hMPV coinfection may be a significant factor contributing to the severity of infant bronchiolitis.

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