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Review
. 2013 Dec;34(12):558-65.
doi: 10.1542/pir.34-12-558.

Human metapneumovirus

Jennifer E Schuster  1 , John V Williams
Affiliations
Review

Human metapneumovirus

Jennifer E Schuster et al. Pediatr Rev. 2013 Dec.

Abstract

On the basis of strong research evidence and consensus, (1) (2) (3) (4) human metapneumovirus is a leading cause of upper and lower respiratory tract infections in children. On the basis of research evidence and consensus, (3) (5) (6) (7) the clinical features of MPV-associated disease are similar to those of RSV. MPV is an important cause of asthma exacerbations, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. Bacterial superinfection can occur.On the basis of research evidence and consensus, (2) (3) (8) the mean age of infection is 6 to 12 months, and nearly all school-age children are seropositive. However, infection can recur, likely in part due to impaired CD8+ T-cell response. On the basis of research evidence and consensus, (9) (10) (11) morbidity and mortality are the highest in patients who are premature, are immunosuppressed, or have underlying cardiopulmonary abnormalities. On the basis of research evidence and consensus, (2) commercially available diagnostic tests exist, and reverse transcriptase–PCR is the most commonly used. On the basis of consensus, because of a lack of relevant clinical studies, recombinant virus vaccines and monoclonal antibodies may be useful as prophylactics or therapeutics. (10)

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
A. Portable chest radiograph of a 5-month-old girl with fever, cough, and increased work of breathing. The lungs are mildly hyperexpanded, with perihilar interstitial prominence, peribronchial cuffing, and fine alveolar perihilar opacities. There is a confluent density seen in the right mid lobe, silhouetting the heart border. B. Portable chest radiograph of a 4-month-old boy with fever, cough, and increased work of breathing. The lungs are hyperinflated, with multifocal atelectasis affecting the right upper lobe and medial lung bases bilaterally. The airspace opacities affecting the right upper lobe are more confluent compared with elsewhere.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Cytopathic effect caused by human metapneumovirus (MPV). A. Uninfected LLC-MK2 cell monolayer. B. MPV-infected LLC-MK2 cells. Arrows indicate syncytia.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Williams JV, Harris PA, Tollefson SJ, et al. Human metapneumovirus and lower respiratory tract disease in otherwise healthy infants and children. N Engl J Med. 2004;350(5):443–450 - PMC - PubMed
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    1. Jartti T, van den Hoogen B, Garofalo RP, Osterhaus AD, Ruuskanen O. Metapneumovirus and acute wheezing in children. Lancet. 2002;360(9343):1393–1394 - PMC - PubMed

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