Genetic Analysis of Human Parainfluenza Virus Type 4-Associated with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Among Children in Luohe City, Henan Province, China, During 2017-2018

Abstract During 2017–2018, Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) from 627 hospitalized patients with SARI at Luohe Center Hospital were tested by RT-PCR for human parainfluenza virus 4(HPIV-4). 14 (2.2%) of 627 samples were positive for HPIV-4. The complete nucleotide sequence of the HN gene from 9 positive samples was amplified and sequenced successfully. Genetic analysis showed that the HPIV-4 strains circulating in Luohe city are more closely related to HPIV-4A. Our study indicated that there were multiple lineages of HPIV-4 circulating in Henan Province in China during the study period, which will improve our understanding of the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of HPIV-4.