Detección de metapneumovirus humano en niños hospitalizados por infección respiratoria aguda baja en Santiago, Chile / Detection of human metapneumovirus in children hospitalized for acute lower respiratory infection in Santiago, Chile

RESUMO

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.