Affiliations: National Influenza Center of N. Greece, B'Laboratory
of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,
Thessaloniki, Greece
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Georgia Gioula, National Influenza Center
of N. Greece, B'Laboratory of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle
University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. Tel.: +30 2310999121; Fax:
+30 2310999101; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Acute respiratory tract infections are a leading cause of morbidity
and mortality in children worldwide. Although the clinical manifestations of
respiratory tract disease are easily recognized, the etiological agent
responsible for disease is often not identified. In 2001 van de Hoogen et al.
reported the discovery of a novel virus from children with respiratory tract
illness in the Netherlands, which was designated human metapneumovirus (hMPV).
Since 2001 hMPV has been reported in most parts of the world. hMPV seems to be
an important respiratory pathogen that causes both upper and lower respiratory
tract infections mostly in children, but in adults as well. The similar
seasonal distribution of several other respiratory infections may result in
coinfection with hMPV and other respiratory viruses, but the role that hMPV
plays as a co-pathogen is still not understood completely. Retrospective
serological studies have shown that hMPV, or a virus closely related to it, has
been circulating for at least 50 years. Discovery of a new pathogen is always
an exciting development in the field of respiratory viruses, although further
studies are required to understand the pathogenesis of hMPV disease and the
development of a safe and effective vaccine
Keywords: Human metapneumovirus, pediatric patients, respiratory tract infections
