Genomic Sequencing of an Atypical Outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus in a Pediatric Population Reveals the Co-circulation of Multiple Genetic Lineages

Authors

Joshua Kennedy, 1. Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas
Jesse Young, Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque New Mexico; TriCore Reference Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Kurt Schwalm, Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque New Mexico
Daryl Domman, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque New Mexico; Clinical Translational Science Center, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque New Mexico
Darrell Dinwiddie, Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque New Mexico; Clinical Translational Science Center, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque New Mexico

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

4-13-2023

Abstract

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a common cause of respiratory infections in children, accounting for 5-15% of all acute respiratory infections in this population. Although HMPV is closely related to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) its incidence, epidemiology, and genetic diversity are poorly understood. In the United States, HMPV infections typically occur annually in the winter and early spring months. Similar to other common respiratory viruses, during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of HMPV were nearly absent. However, in the summer and early fall of 2022 an atypical and dramatic increase of HMPV cases across the United States was detected. In addition to the infections being out of the typical winter respiratory infection season, the incidence and clinical severity appeared to be increased. To investigate if the atypical infections were due to a new and more virulent strain of HMPV, we conducted genomic sequencing of 96 pediatric cases from Arkansas Children’s Research Institute. Genetic analysis revealed the co-circulation of multiple genetic lineages, including two recently described lineages with large duplications in the surface glycoprotein, G; however, no novel mutations or lineages were detected. Our data indicates that the atypical outbreak of HMPV in 2022 was not caused by a new strain of HMPV. It is possible that the increase in cases may have been in response to a decrease in the use of preventive measures such as wearing masks, and social distancing and/or exposure in a population with reduced and waning natural immunity.

UNM HSC HRRC: 14-294, 19-592

Research Category: In-progress research

Contact Person: Darrell Dinwiddie, dldinwiddie@salud.unm.edu

Comments

Poster presented at Pediatric Research Forum

Recommended Citation

Kennedy, Joshua; Jesse Young; Kurt Schwalm; Daryl Domman; and Darrell Dinwiddie. "Genomic Sequencing of an Atypical Outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus in a Pediatric Population Reveals the Co-circulation of Multiple Genetic Lineages." (2023). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/hsc_2023_pediatric_research/9