Human metapneumovirus-associated lower respiratory tract infections among hospitalized human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected and HIV-1-uninfected African infants

Respiratory tract infections due to human metapneumovirus ( hMPV) have been reported worldwide, with the exception of Africa. The prevalence of hMPV infection was studied among human immunodeficiency virus type 1 ( HIV- 1) - infected and HIV- 1 - uninfected African infants who were hospitalized for lower respiratory tract infections ( LRTIs). Nasopharyngeal aspirate samples obtained from 81 HIV- 1 - infected and 110 HIV- 1 uninfected infants who had tested negative for other respiratory viruses were selected for investigation. hMPV was detected in 10 HIV- 1 - uninfected infants ( 9.1%) and 3 HIV- 1 - infected infants ( 3.7%). Compared with the entire cohort of HIV- 1 - uninfected infants, hMPV was 4.6- fold less common than respiratory syncytial virus, but it was 3.2- fold more common than influenza virus and 2.1- fold more common than parainfluenza virus types 1 - 3. Genotyping of 7 of 14 isolates revealed the circulation of 2 major phylogenetic groups of the virus, which were similar to those described in North America and Europe.