Prevalence of Human metapneumovirus infection among patients with influenza‑like illness: Report from a Tertiary Care Centre, Southern India.
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Date
2016-01
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Abstract
Background: Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), discovered in the 21st century, has emerged as an important cause
of influenza‑like illness in children and adults causing mild upper respiratory tract infection to severe bronchiolitis
and community‑associated pneumonia. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HMPV in the Union
Territory of Puducherry, India, as part of National Influenza Surveillance Programme. Materials and Methods: From
November 2011 to December 2013, a total of 447 nasopharyngeal samples were collected from patients with acute
respiratory infections and tested for HMPV RNA by real‑time polymerase chain reaction. Results: HMPV was identified
in 23/447 (5%) samples with 11/23 in the age group of 14–30 years. Most of the HMPV infections were mild with
no fatalities. Two patients were co‑infected with the respiratory syncytial virus and one with influenza B virus. The
seasonal distribution showed increasing HMPV infection cases in rainy months except for a peak in summer of 2012.
Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of the nucleoprotein gene of one HMPV strain showed a high degree
of sequence identity with Indian strains obtained during 2006 and 2011. Conclusion: This study shows that HMPV
infection is more common in adults than in children. Sequence homology suggests the circulation of closely related
HMPV strains within the country.
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Keywords
Acute respiratory infections, Human metapneumovirus, India, influenza‑like illness, real‑time polymerase chain reaction
Citation
Nandhini G, Sujatha S, Jain N, Dhodapkar R, Tamilarasu K, Krishnamurthy S, Biswal N. Prevalence of Human metapneumovirus infection among patients with influenza‑like illness: Report from a Tertiary Care Centre, Southern India. Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology. 2016 Jan-Mar; 34(1): 27-32.