AIM To assess the seroprevalence of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in Croatia. METHODS During 2005, a total of 137 serum specimens from Croatian patients aged from 6 days to 51 years, without respiratory symptoms, were collected at the Croatian National Institute of Public Health. The sera were examined using the indirect immunofluorescent assay. RESULTS The overall hMPV seropositivity rate i...

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and respiratory syncytial virus, its close family member, are two major causes of lower respiratory tract infection in the paediatric population. hMPV is also a common cause of worldwide morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients and older adults. Repeated infections occur often, demonstrating a heavy medical burden. However, there is currently no hMPV-sp...

detection of chikungunya virus using a RT-PCR/nested PCR combination .opment of a TaqMan RT-PCR assay without RNA extraction step for the detection and quantifi cation of African chikungunya viruses. To the Editor: Respiratory viral infections can be associated with a wide range of clinical manifestations from self-limiting upper respiratory tract diseases to pneumonia (1). However, in general,...

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a leading cause of respiratory infection that causes upper airway and severe lower respiratory tract infections. HMPV infection is initiated by viral surface glycoproteins that attach to cellular receptors and mediate virus membrane fusion with cellular membranes. Most paramyxoviruses use two viral glycoproteins to facilitate virus entry-an attachment protein and...

M A Degail1,2, G J Hughes ([email protected])3, C Maule4, C Holmes4, M Lilley5, R Pebody1, J Bonnet4, A Bermingham1, S Bracebridge3 1. Health Protection Agency, Colindale, United Kingdom 2. European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden 3. Health Protection Agency East of England, Cambridge, ...

Zoonotic disease transmission and infections are of particular concern for humans and closely related great apes. In 2009, an outbreak of human metapneumovirus infection was associated with the death of a captive chimpanzee in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Biosecurity and surveillance for this virus in captive great ape populations should be considered.

We describe a fatal case of encephalitis that might be correlated with primary human metapneumovirus (HMPV) encephalitis. Postmortem HMPV RNA was detected in brain and lung tissue samples from the patient. Furthermore, HMPV RNA was found in culture fluids from cells coincubated with lung tissue.

Since its detection in 2001 the human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a member of the Paramyxoviridae family, was observed to be a serious pathogen in human respiratory infections during childhood. Meanwhile, several animal models have been established to study the virus-host interactions and pathogenic effects. Mainly, small laboratory animals like mice and cotton rats have been used, although the usa...

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV), a newly discovered paramyxovirus, has been associated with acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs) ranging from upper ARIs to severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Important questions remain on the contribution of hMPV to ARIs and its impact on public health. During the 2001-2002 season, we conducted a collaborative study with four provincial public health laborato...

The molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of the human metapneumovirus (hMPV) were characterized for a 3-year period (2000-2002) from viruses that were identified in South Africa. Two major genetic groups (A and B) and 2 subgroups (1 and 2) of hMPV were identified, as well as 2-6 possible genotypes within the subgroups. A shift in the predominant group was documented in successive season...