Investigação do Metapneumovírus em população pediátrica atendia em um hospital da rede pública de Goiânia - Goiás

Abstract

The human metapneumovirus, first discovered and described in 2001, has been related to infections in the upper and lower respiratory tract, in all age groups, with severe cases frequently associated with children under five years old, elderlies and immune-compromised people. The present study aims to investigate the occurrence of hMPV in the pediatric population attended in the pediatry referral hospital, in the city of Goiânia - Goiás, evaluating symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. During the period of may/2014 and may/2015 251 nasal swab samples were collected from kids with age up to six years old, with respiratory infection symptoms or asymptomatic. The viral RNA was extracted using the QIAamp cador pathogen mini kit, and the extraction products were submitted to the reverse transcription reaction. The cDNA was submited a nested-PCR using specific primers to the amplification of a conserved region corresponded to the M gene. It was observed a global positivity index for the hMPV of 14.7% (37/251). In the group of children with respiratory infection, the positivity index was 16.6%, however, a significant index was also observed among asymptomatic children (12.3%). Analysis regarding the sample collection period did not show a statistically significant difference, reinforcing literature data that describe the circulation of this pathogen all year long. In Brazil there are few studies regarding the epidemiology of hMPV infections, being this the first report of hMPV occurrence in midwest, contributing to a better understanding of the role played by hMPV in the context of respiratory tract infections.