Mu Ting, Pei Jianxin, Wang Jingting, Niu Ling, Wu Zhonglan
Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Academy of Preventive Medicine, NO.4 Fengchao Road, Yinchuan 750004, China.
Zhongwei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhongwei 755000, China.
Diseases. 2025 Aug 11;13(8):255. doi: 10.3390/diseases13080255.
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a major pathogen responsible for causing severe acute respiratory infections (SARI). Whole-genome sequencing can better identify transmission events and outbreaks. In this study, we aimed to investigate the epidemiology and genetic diversity of HMPV in SARI cases in Ningxia, China.
We collected respiratory tract samples from hospitalized patients with SARI from October 2023 to September 2024 in Ningxia, China. Nasopharyngeal swabs were tested for respiratory viruses with qRT-PCR. Whole-genome sequences were determined for samples with high viral loads using an amplicon-based method.
We enrolled 2873 SARI patients from October 2023 to September 2024, and found an HMPV-positive proportion of 3.06% (88/2873). Children aged 4 years were particularly susceptible to HMPV infection, with a positive proportion of 10.92% (13/119). HMPV exhibits distinct seasonal characteristics, consistent with its established epidemiological pattern, with a peak incidence occurring during winter months. Sixteen complete HMPV genome sequences were obtained. Among these, 81.25% (13/16) were identified as genotype A (A2.2.2: 92.31%, 12/13; A2.2.1: 7.69%, 1/13) and 18.75% (3/16) as genotype B1. Notably, the dominant strain was 111nt-dup in genotype A2.2.2. Sequence analysis of HMPV genes revealed divergent G-gene sequence identities between different genotypes. Additionally, the potential glycosylation sites of the G protein varied across genotypes.
In this study, we found that the 111nt-dup strain was the dominant one in genotype A, and multiple genotypes co-circulated in Ningxia from October 2023 to September 2024. The HMPV G protein exhibited the highest level of inter-strain diversity between genotypes. These findings provide valuable insights into the prevention and control of HMPV infections in China.
人偏肺病毒（HMPV）是导致严重急性呼吸道感染（SARI）的主要病原体。全基因组测序能够更好地识别传播事件和疫情暴发情况。在本研究中，我们旨在调查中国宁夏SARI病例中HMPV的流行病学特征和遗传多样性。
我们于2023年10月至2024年9月在中国宁夏收集了住院SARI患者的呼吸道样本。采用qRT-PCR对鼻咽拭子进行呼吸道病毒检测。使用基于扩增子的方法对病毒载量高的样本测定全基因组序列。
我们纳入了2023年10月至2024年9月期间的2873例SARI患者，发现HMPV阳性率为3.06%（88/2873）。4岁儿童尤其易感染HMPV，阳性率为10.92%（13/119）。HMPV呈现出明显的季节性特征，与其既定的流行病学模式一致，发病高峰出现在冬季。获得了16条完整的HMPV基因组序列。其中，81.25%（13/16）被鉴定为A基因型（A2.2.2：92.31%，12/13；A2.2.1：7.69%，1/13），18.75%（3/16）为B1基因型。值得注意的是，优势毒株在A2.2.2基因型中为111nt-dup。HMPV基因的序列分析显示不同基因型之间G基因序列同一性存在差异。此外，G蛋白的潜在糖基化位点在不同基因型间也有所不同。
在本研究中，我们发现111nt-dup毒株是A基因型中的优势毒株，2023年10月至2024年9月期间宁夏多种基因型共同流行。HMPV G蛋白在基因型间表现出最高水平的株间多样性。这些发现为中国HMPV感染的预防和控制提供了有价值的见解。
