Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41299375›Full record

ArticleBMC infectious diseases2025

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

Abdulaziz M Almuqrin, Ibrahim M Aziz, Abdulrahman F Alrezaihi, Lama Alzamil, Mohamed A Farrag, Taghreed A Hafiz, Reem M Aljowaie, Fahad N Almajhdi

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Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Abdulaziz M AlmuqrinDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 12372, Saudi Arabia. aalmuqrin@ksu.edu.sa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-7025-6543
Ibrahim M AzizDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulrahman F AlrezaihiDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 12372, Saudi Arabia.
Lama AlzamilDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 12372, Saudi Arabia.
Mohamed A FarragDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Taghreed A HafizDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 12372, Saudi Arabia.
Reem M AljowaieDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Fahad N AlmajhdiDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

the Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University W25-6
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionHuman 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.

methodsA 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 analyzed for phylogeny, mutations, and glycosylation profiles.

resultsHMPV was detected in 10 (4.63%) of screened samples, with the highest prevalence among children aged 2-5 months and a predominance in males. Co-infections with other respiratory viruses were observed in 5 (50%) positive cases. Phylogenetic analysis identified five distinct genotypes (A2.1, A2.2, A2.2.2, B1, B2). Notably, genotype A2.2.2 was identified for the first time in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region. Comparative sequence analysis revealed 43.75% nucleotide mutations and 25.83% amino acid substitutions, many of which were genotype-specific, along with distinct glycosylation patterns unique to the study isolates.

conclusionThis study provides the first molecular characterization of HMPV in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results demonstrate notable genetic diversity, including the circulation of five genotypes and the first detection of the A2.2.2 genotype in the country. These findings highlight the importance of continuous genomic surveillance to monitor viral evolution and guide regional public-health strategies. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

COVID-19Genetic VariationMetapneumovirusParamyxoviridae InfectionsRespiratory Tract InfectionsChildChild, HospitalizedChild, PreschoolFemaleGenotypeHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMaleMolecular EpidemiologyMutationEpidemiologyHuman metapneumovirusRespiratory virusesSequence and phylogenetic analysis

Identifiers

PMID41299375
PMCPMC12659369

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.