TY - JOUR
T1 - Serologic evidence of Avian metapneumovirus infection among adults occupationally exposed to Turkeys
AU - Kayali, Ghazi
AU - Ortiz, Ernesto J.
AU - Chorazy, Margaret L.
AU - Nagaraja, Kakambi V.
AU - Debeauchamp, Jennifer
AU - Webby, Richard J.
AU - Gray, Gregory C.
PY - 2011/11/1
Y1 - 2011/11/1
N2 - Genetically similar, the avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) and the human MPV (hMPV) are the only viruses in the Metapneumovirus genus. Previous research demonstrated the ability of hMPV to cause clinical disease in turkeys. In this controlled, cross-sectional, seroepidemiological study, we examined the hypothesis that aMPV might infect humans. We enrolled 95 adults occupationally exposed to turkeys and 82 nonexposed controls. Sera from study participants were examined for antibodies against aMPV and hMPV. Both in bivariate (OR=3.2; 95% CI: 1.1-9.2) and in multivariate modelling adjusting for antibody to hMPV (OR=4.1; 95% CI: 1.3-13.1), meat-processing workers were found to have an increased odds of previous infection with aMPV compared to controls. While hMPV antibody cross-reactivity is evident, these data suggest that occupational exposure to turkeys is a risk factor for human infection with aMPV. More studies are needed to validate these findings, to identify modes of aMPV transmission, and to determine risk factors associated with infection.
AB - Genetically similar, the avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) and the human MPV (hMPV) are the only viruses in the Metapneumovirus genus. Previous research demonstrated the ability of hMPV to cause clinical disease in turkeys. In this controlled, cross-sectional, seroepidemiological study, we examined the hypothesis that aMPV might infect humans. We enrolled 95 adults occupationally exposed to turkeys and 82 nonexposed controls. Sera from study participants were examined for antibodies against aMPV and hMPV. Both in bivariate (OR=3.2; 95% CI: 1.1-9.2) and in multivariate modelling adjusting for antibody to hMPV (OR=4.1; 95% CI: 1.3-13.1), meat-processing workers were found to have an increased odds of previous infection with aMPV compared to controls. While hMPV antibody cross-reactivity is evident, these data suggest that occupational exposure to turkeys is a risk factor for human infection with aMPV. More studies are needed to validate these findings, to identify modes of aMPV transmission, and to determine risk factors associated with infection.
KW - Microbiology
KW - Serology
KW - Transmission
KW - Zoonosis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=81155123317&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=81155123317&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/vbz.2011.0637
DO - 10.1089/vbz.2011.0637
M3 - Article
C2 - 21736487
AN - SCOPUS:81155123317
SN - 1530-3667
VL - 11
SP - 1453
EP - 1458
JO - Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases
JF - Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases
IS - 11
ER -
