Artículo de revista
Detection of human metapneumovirus in children hospitalized for acute lower respiratory infection in Santiago, Chile Detección de metapneumovirus humano en niños hospitalizados por infección respiratoria aguda baja en Santiago, Chile
Date
2005Registration in:
Revista Medica de Chile, Volumen 133, Issue 9, 2018, Pages 1059-1064
00349887
Author
Luchsinger F, Vivian
Escobar C, Carola
Avendaño C, Luis Fidel
Institutions
Abstract
Background: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has recently been described as a new causal agent of acute low respiratory infection (ALRI) in children. In South America, detection has been reported only in Brazil and Argentina. Aim: To detect hMPV in children hospitalized for ALRI in Santiago, Chile. Material and Methods: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect N gene of hMPV in 182 nasopharyngeal aspirates that were negative for common respiratory viruses, obtained from children hospitalized for ALRI during 2003. Results: Ten samples (5.4%) were positive, most of them detected during spring months. Conclusions: Since hMPV was detected among infants with ALRI in Santiago, further studies on their prevalence should be done in South America.