Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases
Online ISSN : 1884-2836
Print ISSN : 1344-6304
ISSN-L : 1344-6304

This article has now been updated. Please use the final version.

Comparative analysis of epidemiology, clinical features and cytokine response of Respiratory Syncytial and Human Metapneumovirus infected children with acute lower respiratory infections.
Subhabrata SarkarRadha Kanta RathoMeenu SinghMini Pritam SinghAmarjeet SinghMegha Sharma
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS Advance online publication

Article ID: JJID.2021.151

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Abstract

Both Human Respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV) and Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) cause immune-mediated under-five acute respiratory infections (ARI), but differences in their disease pathogenesis, if any, are not well-known. This study was undertaken to analyze the epidemio-clinico-immunological features of RSV and hMPV infections. Naso-pharyngeal aspirates from children (aged two months to five years) with ARI presenting to our tertiary care center between December 2013 to March 2016 were subjected to real-time polymerase chain reaction for detection of RSV and hMPV. Positive samples were analyzed for co-infections and levels of cytokines. Of 349 naso-pharyngeal aspirates, RSV was detected in 40.68% (142/349), hMPV in 6.59% (23/349) and both in 1.4% (5/349). Co-infections were common, rhinovirus being the commonest co-offender. The demographical and clinical parameters of RSV- and hMPV-infected children were comparable. MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio was significantly higher in RSV-mediated ARI and IFN-γ in hMPV-mediated ARI. Both RSV and hMPV are common among north Indian children with ARI and coinfections are not uncommon. Their clinical features being non-discriminatory, molecular diagnosis should be utilized to ascertain their individual epidemiology. The differences in their immune-pathogenesis (MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio in RSV and IFN-γ in hMPV) could serve as useful tools for developing newer drugs.

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