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. 2008 Nov 1;33(4):483–493. doi: 10.1007/s12038-008-0067-y

Human metapneumovirus: a new respiratory pathogen

S Broor 1,✉, P Bharaj 1, H S Chahar 1
PMCID: PMC7090889  PMID: 19208974

Abstract

Human metapneumovirus is a recently recognized pathogen of acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) in children as well as elderly and immunocompromised adults. The virus belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae, sub family Pneumovirinae and genus Metapneumovirus. Through genetic analysis it has been characterized into two groups A and B which are further divided into four sub-lineages. The virus is difficult to grow in tissue culture and hence reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for N and L gene is the method of choice for diagnosis. The virus has been seen in all countries with seasonal distribution in winter months for temperate and spring/summer for tropical countries. F gene is the most conserved among different lineages and efforts are underway to design recombination vaccine using F gene.

Keywords: Acute respiratory infections, human metapneumovirus

Abbreviations used

ALRI

acute lower respiratory tract infection

APV

avian pneumoviruses

ARI

acute respiratory tract infection

CPE

cytopathic effect

hMPV

human metapneumovirus

RSV

respiratory syncytial virus

RT-PCR

reverse tracriptase-polymerase chain reaction

SARS

severe acute respiratory syndrome

SH

small hydrophobic

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