Genetic characterization of human metapneumovirus identified through community and facility‐based surveillance of infants in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Background Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children in low and middle‐income countries. Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is one of the most common viral etiological agents for ARIs in children. Objectives In this study, we explored the genotypic diversity and the epidemiology of hMPV among infants in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Study Design Between December 2014 and August 2016, a total of 3810 mid‐turbinate nasal swab samples were collected from infants (0 to 6 months of age) who met clinical ARI criteria, as a part of a prospective ARI cohort study. hMPV was detected using polymerase chain reaction, and genotyped by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Results hMPV was identified in 206 (5.4%) nasal swab specimens. One‐tenth of the hMPV‐positive swabs (n = 19) were also positive for other respiratory viruses. hMPV activity peaked in January and September in 2015; however, no seasonal pattern of hMPV infection was detected. Phylogenetic analyses of the N and F gene‐fragments revealed that the hMPV strains circulating in Dhaka, Bangladesh, belonged to three genotypes: A2b, A2c, and B1. Genotype A (57%) was the predominant hMPV genotype circulating in Bangladesh during the study period. Conclusion This study describes both the epidemiology of hMPV infection and its genotypic strain diversity in Dhaka, Bangladesh.