The role of human metapneumovirus in pediatric respiratory tract infection in Qatar

Aim: The human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has been recently discovered as an etiological agent of acute respiratory infections in infants and children, with similar clinical symptoms to those caused by respiratory syncytial virus. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hMPV and its potential role as a causative agent of respiratory tract infections in children in Qatar. Methods: In the present study, we examined 84 nasopharyngeal aspirates from children with respiratory tract infections, presenting at Al-Saad Pediatric Emergency Center in Doha, Qatar, as outpatients, for the presence of respiratory viruses. Results: A total of 56 out of 84 (66.7%) cases were positive for the presence of respiratory viruses. Out of the 56 positive cases 54 (96%) contained hMPV; whereas 12 out of 56 (21.4%) contained human parainfluenza virus. A total of 14 out of 56 of the positive patients were infected with more than one virus. hMPV was in samples infected with one or more respiratory tract infection viruses and was the most frequently isolated virus from infants less than 6 months of age. Conclusion: This is the first report demonstrating the prevalence of hMPV in children suffering from respiratory tract infections in Qatar. Detection of this virus may have significant clinical implications in this patient population in Qatar.