Human metapneumovirus virus (hMPV) has recently been identified as an etiological agent of acute respiratory infections in children less than 5 years old.The hMPV fusion protein (F) protein has been indicated to be a major antigenic determinant that mediates effective neutralization & protection against hMPV infection.Methods:From October 2006 to March 2007,nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens from 49 children less than 5 years old were analyzed to detect hMPV by direct immunofluoresce(DFA) and cell culture.
Results:hMPV was identified in 11 of 49 children ( 22.4 %) as detected by DFA & in 3(6%) of 49 children as detected by cell culture .The mean age of hMPV infected children was 14.6 months (range,1 to 60 months) . The most common symptoms were cough(87%),coryza(85%),fever(52%),otalgia(27%),whezeeing(22%) and anorexia(33%).
Conclusion:hMPV was a common virus isolate in children between 1 to months 60 ,hospitalized for respiratory tract infections. DFA is a rapid & useful test for the diagnosis of hMPV infection in children.