In-field detection and characterization of B/Victoria lineage deletion variant viruses causing early influenza activity and an outbreak in Louisiana, 2019.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In 2019, the Louisiana Department of Health reported an early influenza B/Victoria (B/VIC) virus outbreak.

Method

As it was an atypically large outbreak, we deployed to Louisiana to investigate it using genomics and a triplex real-time RT-PCR assay to detect three antigenically distinct B/VIC lineage variant viruses.

Results

The investigation indicated that B/VIC V1A.3 subclade, containing a three amino acid deletion in the hemagglutinin and known to be antigenically distinct to the B/Colorado/06/2017 vaccine virus, was the most prevalent circulating virus within the specimens evaluated (86/88 in real-time RT-PCR).

Conclusion

This work underscores the value of portable platforms for rapid, onsite pathogen characterization.

SUBMITTER: Shu B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10767671 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature