Multicenter Cross-sectional Study on the Epidemiology of Human Metapneumovirus in Italy, 2022–2024, With a Focus on Adults Over 50 Years of Age - Summary - MDSpire

Multicenter Cross-sectional Study on the Epidemiology of Human Metapneumovirus in Italy, 2022–2024, With a Focus on Adults Over 50 Years of Age

  • By

  • Alessandro Mancon

  • Laura Pellegrinelli

  • Greta Romano

  • Elisa Vian

  • Valeria Biscaro

  • Giulia Piccirilli

  • Tiziana Lazzarotto

  • Sara Uceda Renteria

  • Annapaola Callegaro

  • Elisabetta Pagani

  • Elisa Masi

  • Guglielmo Ferrari

  • Cristina Galli

  • Francesca Centrone

  • Maria Chironna

  • Claudia Tiberio

  • Erasmo Falco

  • Valeria Micheli

  • Federica Novazzi

  • Nicasio Mancini

  • Tiziano Giacomo Allice

  • Francesco Cerutti

  • Elena Pomari

  • Concetta Castilletti

  • Eleonora Lalle

  • Fabrizio Maggi

  • Matteo Fracella

  • Paolo Ravanini

  • Giulia Faolotto

  • Roberta Schiavo

  • Giuliana Lo Cascio

  • Carla Acciarri

  • Stefano Menzo

  • Fausto Baldanti

  • Guido Antonelli

  • Alessandra Pierangeli

  • Elena Pariani

  • Antonio Piralla

  • on behalf

  • AMCLI-GLIViRe Working Group

  • Laura Sandri

  • Sandro Binda

  • Federica Giardina

  • Antonino M G Pitrolo

  • Patrizia Bono

  • Gabriele Arcari

  • Alessandra Lombardi

  • Antonia Palumbo

  • Salvatore Curiale

  • Eva Caterina Borgatti

  • Federica Tontarelli

  • Fabrizio Carletti

  • Ombretta Turriziani

  • Annamaria Colacicco

  • July 16, 2025

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Objective:

To understand the epidemiology of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in Italy, particularly among adults aged 50 and older, to inform public health strategies.

Key Findings:
  • Overall hMPV positivity rate was 3.4%; 2.6% in adults aged 50 and older, indicating a significant public health concern.
  • Higher detection rates in outpatients compared to hospitalized patients in north-west Italy, suggesting varying risk factors.
  • Seasonal peaks in hMPV cases were observed in February 2023 and April 2024, highlighting the need for timely interventions.
  • Phylogenetic analysis indicated an even distribution of hMPV-A and -B, with predominance of clades A2c and B2b, which may inform future vaccine development.
Interpretation:

hMPV is a significant respiratory pathogen in older adults, with potential for severe outcomes, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced surveillance and targeted prevention strategies.

Limitations:
  • Data may not represent all regions of Italy due to the multicenter nature of the study, potentially limiting the generalizability of the findings.
  • Limited number of strains sequenced for phylogenetic analysis may restrict the understanding of hMPV evolution.
Conclusion:

The study underscores the relevance of hMPV in older adults and the necessity for ongoing surveillance and potential vaccination strategies to mitigate risks.

Original Source(s)

Multicenter Cross-sectional Study on the Epidemiology of Human Metapneumovirus in Italy, 2022–2024, With a Focus on Adults Over 50 Years of Age

  • by Alessandro Mancon, Laura Pellegrinelli, Greta Romano, Elisa Vian, Valeria Biscaro, Giulia Piccirilli, Tiziana Lazzarotto, Sara Uceda Renteria, Annapaola Callegaro, Elisabetta Pagani, Elisa Masi, Guglielmo Ferrari, Cristina Galli, Francesca Centrone, Maria Chironna, Claudia Tiberio, Erasmo Falco, Valeria Micheli, Federica Novazzi, Nicasio Mancini, Tiziano Giacomo Allice, Francesco Cerutti, Elena Pomari, Concetta Castilletti, Eleonora Lalle, Fabrizio Maggi, Matteo Fracella, Paolo Ravanini, Giulia Faolotto, Roberta Schiavo, Giuliana Lo Cascio, Carla Acciarri, Stefano Menzo, Fausto Baldanti, Guido Antonelli, Alessandra Pierangeli, Elena Pariani, Antonio Piralla, on behalf, AMCLI-GLIViRe Working Group, Laura Sandri, Sandro Binda, Federica Giardina, Antonino M G Pitrolo, Patrizia Bono, Gabriele Arcari, Alessandra Lombardi, Antonia Palumbo, Salvatore Curiale, Eva Caterina Borgatti, Federica Tontarelli, Fabrizio Carletti, Ombretta Turriziani, Annamaria Colacicco

  • July 16, 2025

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