Avian Metapneumovirus Classification
One serotype of Avian Metapneumovirus has been described but nucleotide sequence analysis and neutralisation tests using specific monoclonal antibodies have identified four subtypes (A, B, C and D).
Different aMPV subtypes have been demonstrated by assays such as:
- Cross virus neutralization
- Neutralisation tests using monoclonal antibodies
- Immunochemical assays
- Reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction – restriction fragment length polymorphism (RT/PCR- RFLP) or nucleotide sequencing.