New variant of the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) associated with an acute and severe exacerbation of asthma bronchiale

J Clin Virol. 2004 Dec;31(4):283-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2004.06.007.

Abstract

Recently, an increasing number of studies demonstrated that the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) causes mild to severe respiratory infections in children and immunosuppressed adults, and may be a frequent but somewhat undervalued pathogen. Here, we report the detection of a new variant of HMPV that is not closely related to the HMPV strains described until now. The strain was detected in a 6.5-year-old girl with an acute and severe exacerbation of asthma bronchiale triggered by an infection with a newly detected HMPV variant. The presented data provide new information on genetic heterogeneity of HMPV and necessitate an optimization of diagnostic procedures for the detection of HMPV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Asthma / complications
  • Asthma / virology*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Metapneumovirus / classification*
  • Metapneumovirus / genetics
  • Metapneumovirus / isolation & purification
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / complications*
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / virology
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Viral / genetics

Substances

  • RNA, Viral