Aim: To assess the seroprevalence of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in Croatia.
Methods: During 2005, a total of 137 serum specimens from Croatian patients aged from 6 days to 51 years, without respiratory symptoms, were collected at the Croatian National Institute of Public Health. The sera were examined using the indirect immunofluorescent assay.
Results: The overall hMPV seropositivity rate in the samples tested was 77.4% (106/137). The seropositivity rate increased from 18.7% in children aged between 6 months and 1 year to 100% in people older than 20 years of age. The highest proportion of titers > or =1:512 was found in children aged from 1 to 2 years.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that hMPV infection is present in Croatia, with primary infection occurring in early childhood. This is the first study that indicates the circulation of hMPV in Croatia.