Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection is an acute respiratory infection caused by human metapneumovirus, an enveloped negative-sense RNA virus of the family Pneumoviridae closely related to respiratory syncytial virus. Discovered in 2001, hMPV is a common respiratory pathogen, particularly in infants and young children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised, and produces illness across the spectrum from upper respiratory tract disease to bronchiolitis and pneumonia — clinically similar to RSV. Nearly all children have been infected by age five. hMPV is also a recognized trigger of asthma exacerbations.
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name: Human Metapneumovirus Infection
creation_date: "2026-06-28T00:00:00Z"
description: >
Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection is an acute respiratory infection caused
by human metapneumovirus, an enveloped negative-sense RNA virus of the family
Pneumoviridae closely related to respiratory syncytial virus. Discovered in
2001, hMPV is a common respiratory pathogen, particularly in infants and young
children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised, and produces illness across
the spectrum from upper respiratory tract disease to bronchiolitis and pneumonia
— clinically similar to RSV. Nearly all children have been infected by age five.
hMPV is also a recognized trigger of asthma exacerbations.
category: Infectious Disease
parents:
- Viral Respiratory Infection
synonyms:
- hMPV infection
- HMPV infection
- Human metapneumovirus
pathophysiology:
- name: Respiratory Epithelial Infection and Innate Immune Response
conforms_to: "innate_antiviral_interferon_response#Interferon-Stimulated Gene Antiviral State"
description: >
hMPV infects the ciliated respiratory epithelium of the upper and lower
airways, where replication is sensed by the innate immune system and elicits a
type I/III interferon and inflammatory response. Disease ranges from mild upper
respiratory illness to lower respiratory involvement; the clinical picture
closely resembles RSV, its close relative in the Pneumoviridae.
cell_types:
- preferred_term: respiratory epithelial cell
term:
id: CL:0002632
label: epithelial cell of lower respiratory tract
- preferred_term: ciliated airway epithelial cell
term:
id: CL:0000064
label: ciliated cell
biological_processes:
- preferred_term: viral genome replication
term:
id: GO:0019079
label: viral genome replication
- preferred_term: defense response to virus
term:
id: GO:0051607
label: defense response to virus
- preferred_term: inflammatory response
term:
id: GO:0006954
label: inflammatory response
modifier: INCREASED
locations:
- preferred_term: respiratory system
term:
id: UBERON:0001004
label: respiratory system
- preferred_term: lung
term:
id: UBERON:0002048
label: lung
evidence:
- reference: PMID:16847085
supports: SUPPORT
evidence_source: OTHER
snippet: >-
hMPV is a common respiratory pathogen, particularly in infants and young
children. The virus is associated with both upper and lower respiratory tract
infections and may be a trigger for asthma.
explanation: >-
Establishes hMPV as a common cause of upper and lower respiratory infection
and an asthma trigger. Evidence source is OTHER as this is a review article.
downstream:
- target: Lower Respiratory Tract Involvement
description: >-
In infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised hosts, hMPV infection extends
to the lower airway, producing bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
- name: Lower Respiratory Tract Involvement
description: >
In young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised patients, hMPV produces
lower respiratory tract disease — bronchiolitis and pneumonia — clinically
similar to that caused by respiratory syncytial virus.
biological_processes:
- preferred_term: inflammatory response
term:
id: GO:0006954
label: inflammatory response
modifier: INCREASED
locations:
- preferred_term: lung
term:
id: UBERON:0002048
label: lung
evidence:
- reference: PMID:11385510
supports: SUPPORT
evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
snippet: >-
The clinical symptoms of the children from whom the virus was isolated were
similar to those caused by human respiratory syncytial virus infection,
ranging from upper respiratory tract disease to severe bronchiolitis and
pneumonia.
explanation: >-
The discovery report documents the clinical spectrum from upper respiratory
disease to severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia, RSV-like. Evidence source is
HUMAN_CLINICAL as this describes the affected children.
downstream: []
phenotypes:
- category: Respiratory
name: Bronchiolitis
description: >
Small-airway inflammation (bronchiolitis), especially in infants, mirroring RSV
disease.
phenotype_term:
preferred_term: Bronchiolitis
term:
id: HP:0011950
label: Bronchiolitis
evidence:
- reference: PMID:11385510
supports: SUPPORT
evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
snippet: >-
The clinical symptoms of the children from whom the virus was isolated were
similar to those caused by human respiratory syncytial virus infection,
ranging from upper respiratory tract disease to severe bronchiolitis and
pneumonia.
explanation: >-
Documents severe bronchiolitis among the affected children. Evidence source
is HUMAN_CLINICAL as this describes the affected children.
- category: Respiratory
name: Pneumonia
description: >
Lower respiratory tract pneumonia, particularly in young children, the elderly,
and immunocompromised hosts.
phenotype_term:
preferred_term: Pneumonia
term:
id: HP:0002090
label: Pneumonia
evidence:
- reference: PMID:11385510
supports: SUPPORT
evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
snippet: >-
The clinical symptoms of the children from whom the virus was isolated were
similar to those caused by human respiratory syncytial virus infection,
ranging from upper respiratory tract disease to severe bronchiolitis and
pneumonia.
explanation: >-
Documents pneumonia among the affected children. Evidence source is
HUMAN_CLINICAL as this describes the affected children.
- category: Respiratory
name: Wheezing
description: >
hMPV is a recognized trigger of wheezing and asthma exacerbations.
phenotype_term:
preferred_term: Wheezing
term:
id: HP:0030828
label: Wheezing
evidence:
- reference: PMID:16847085
supports: SUPPORT
evidence_source: OTHER
snippet: >-
The virus is associated with both upper and lower respiratory tract
infections and may be a trigger for asthma.
explanation: >-
Supports hMPV as a trigger for asthma (wheezing). Evidence source is OTHER as
this is a review article.
- category: Respiratory
name: Cough
description: >
Cough is a common manifestation of hMPV respiratory infection.
phenotype_term:
preferred_term: Cough
term:
id: HP:0012735
label: Cough
- category: Constitutional
name: Fever
description: >
Fever commonly accompanies acute hMPV infection.
phenotype_term:
preferred_term: Fever
term:
id: HP:0001945
label: Fever
treatments:
- name: Supportive Care
description: >
Management of hMPV infection is supportive (hydration, antipyretics, and
respiratory support as needed); no specific antiviral therapy is approved.
treatment_term:
preferred_term: Supportive Care
term:
id: NCIT:C15747
label: Supportive Care
notes: >
Created as part of the Respiratory Infections project (Intercept-aligned endemic
respiratory viruses). Created without a MONDO disease_term id because no MONDO
term currently exists for human metapneumovirus infection — flagged for a MONDO
term request rather than anchored to a too-general parent. Conforms to the
innate_antiviral_interferon_response module. Closely related to (and clinically
resembling) Respiratory_Syncytial_Virus_Infection. The infectious_agent
(NCBITaxon) block was omitted at creation and the organism is described in text.