DETECTION OF HUMAN METAPNEUMOVIRUS IN NASOPHARYNGEAL ASPIRATES OF BRAZILIAN CHILDREN BY IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE ASSAY

The circulation of human metapneumovirus is related to seasonal patterns of respiratory syncytial virus. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of hMPV infection diagnosed by indirect immunofluorescence in children attending emergency department and general wards of Hospital Infantil Albert Sabin in Fortaleza, Ceara, northeastern Brazil, during the respiratory syncytial virus season in 2006. The analysis included 389 samples. Antigens of hPMV were detected in 39 samples. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17525/vrr.v13i1-2.17