Pneumopathie à métapneumovirus humain chez un adulte suspect de syndrome respiratoire aigu sévère (Sras)

INTRODUCTION: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a newly identified virus responsible for occasionally severe respiratory infections, mainly observed in children. OBSERVATION: A 59-year old man was hospitalised for respiratory problmems and fever 3 days after his return from China during the epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Other than fever (> 38°C), the patient exhibited a dry cough, myalgias, arthralgias and mild lymphopenia and the chest radiography showed an opacity on the right lower lung. Conventional virological investigations remained negative. Detection of the novel SARS-associated coronavirus was negative but hMPV detection was positive. DISCUSSION: The present observation indicates that hMPV may cause respiratory symptoms mimicking initial manifestations of SARS in adults visiting epidemic countries. CONCLUSION: hMPV testing has clinical utility in adult patients with acute respiratory tract infection.