Detection of human metapneumovirus antigens in nasopharyngeal secretions by an immunofluorescent-antibody test.

Abstract

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a recently discovered pathogen associated with respiratory tract infections, primarily in young children, immunocompromised individuals, and elderly individuals. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) has been reported to be a more sensitive method for the diagnosis of hMPV infections than virus isolation by culture and serological study. However, there has been no report on rapid methods, such as an immunofluorescent-antibody test or an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, for the detection of hMPV antigens in nasopharyngeal secretions. In this study, we compared an indirect immunofluorescent-antibody test (IFA) with a monoclonal antibody with RT-PCR for detection of hMPV in nasal secretions from 48 hospitalized children with respiratory tract infections. Fifteen of the 48 children were positive for hMPV by RT-PCR. IFA results were positive for 11 of the 15 RT-PCR-positive children (sensitivity, 73.3%) and 1 of the 33 RT-PCR-negative children (specificity, 97.0%). Although the sensitivity of IFA is lower than that of RT-PCR, IFA is a rapid and useful test for the diagnosis of hMPV infections in children.

• Authors: Takashi Ebihara, Rika Endo, Xiaoming Ma, Nobuhisa Ishiguro, Hideaki Kikuta
• Journal: Journal of clinical microbiology (J Clin Microbiol) Vol. 43 Issue 3 Pg. 1138-41 (Mar 2005) ISSN: 0095-1137 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15750074 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Viral

Topics

• Antigens, Viral (analysis)
• Child, Preschool
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Fluorescent Antibody Technique
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Metapneumovirus (immunology)
• Nasopharynx (virology)
• Paramyxoviridae Infections (diagnosis)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction