Molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of human metapneumovirus among hospitalized children in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 era.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a major viral cause of acute respiratory tract infections, especially in young children and older adults. However, data on its molecular epidemiology in the Middle East remain scarce. As the COVID-19 pandemic may have altered the circulation and molecular epidemiology of respiratory viruses, this study represents one of the first efforts to assess the genetic diversity and circulation patterns of HMPV in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 era.

Methods

A total of 216 nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from hospitalized children with suspected respiratory infections in Riyadh during the COVID-19 pandemic. Samples were screened for HMPV by RT-PCR, and the full-length G gene of positive isolates was amplified, sequenced, and analyz

SUBMITTER: Almuqrin AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12659369 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature