Human Metapneumovirus Detection in Patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Human Metapneumovirus Detection in Patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Rickjason C. W. Chan, John S. Tam, Ching-Wan Lam, Edward Chan, Alan Wu, Chi-kong Li, Thomas A. Buckley, King-Cheung Ng, Gavin M. Joynt, Frankie W. T. Cheng, Ka-Fai To, Nelson Lee, David S.C. Hui, Jo L.K. Cheung, Ida Chu, Esther Liu, Sydney S.C. Chung, Joseph J. Y. Sung

We used a combination approach of conventional virus isolation and molecular techniques to detect human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Of the 48 study patients, 25 (52.1%) were infected with HMPV; 6 of these 25 patients were also infected with coronavirus, and another 5 patients (10.4%) were infected with coronavirus alone. Using this combination approach, we found that human laryngeal carcinoma (HEp-2) cells were superior to rhesus monkey kidney (LLC-MK2) cells commonly used in previous studies for isolation of HMPV. These widely available HEp-2 cells should be included in conjunction with a molecular method for cell culture followup to detect HMPV, particularly in patients with SARS.

2003

Metapneumovirus, coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS, virus isolation, Hong Kong

DOI: 10.3201/eid0909.030304

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Infectious and parasitic diseases, Medicine

EN