Human metapneumovirus and human bocavirus associated with respiratory infection in Apulian population

• Published in: Virology (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 417; no. 1; pp. 64 - 70
• Main Authors: Guido, M., Quattrocchi, M., Campa, A., Zizza, A., Grima, P., Romano, A., De Donno, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 15.08.2011
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bocaparvovirus; Child; Child, Preschool; children; elderly; Female; genes; genotype; Human bocavirus; Human bocavirus - classification; Human bocavirus - genetics; Human bocavirus - isolation & purification; Human metapneumovirus; Humans; Infant; Infection; Infectious Disease; influenza; Influenza virus; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Influenza, Human - virology; Italy - epidemiology; Male; Metapneumovirus - classification; Metapneumovirus - genetics; Metapneumovirus - isolation & purification; Middle Aged; mixed infection; Orthomyxoviridae - classification; Orthomyxoviridae - isolation & purification; Paramyxoviridae Infections - epidemiology; Paramyxoviridae Infections - virology; Parvoviridae Infections - epidemiology; Parvoviridae Infections - virology; patients; Phylogeny; polymerase chain reaction; Prospective Studies; Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Infections - virology; Surveillance; viruses; Young Adult; Italy; Infection; Surveillance; Human bocavirus; Influenza virus; Human metapneumovirus
• ISSN: 0042-6822; 1096-0341; 1096-0341
• DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2011.04.016

We have studied the occurrence of hBoV, hMPV and InfA-B in an Apulian population with respiratory tract infections. During influenza season 2008–2009, 116 oropharingeal swabs were collected from patients affected by Influenza-Like Illness (ILI). The PCR products of hMPV M and HBoV NP-1 genes were sequenced. 78 out of 116 samples were positive for at least one respiratory virus; hBoV was detected in 53, hMPV in 22 and InfA-B in 41 out of 116 swabs. A high rate of hBoV infection in adult (18.9%) and elderly (26.4%) subjects was found. The co-infection rate was higher for hMPV (18/22 cases, 81.8%) compared to hBoV (26/53 cases, 49.1%), and InfA-B (25/41 cases, 61.0%). Co-infections were common in children. hBoV positive samples shared a high level of genetic similarity with the hBoV1 genotype, and hMPV positive samples clustered with A2 subgroup. Our results suggest that hBoV and hMPV play a role in ILI.