Pre-COVID-19-pandemic RSV epidemiology and clinical burden in pediatric primary care in Italy: a comparative analysis across two regions for the 2019/2020 season
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Pandolfi E
PROVIDER: S-EPMC11007985 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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| S-EPMC11018906 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of respiratory virus infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), during the winter period December 2019 to March 2020, via a tertiary care hospital-based survey in Parma, Northern Italy.MethodsA total of 906 biological samples from the respiratory tract were analysed by both conventional assays (including culture) and molecular assays targeting nucleic acids of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses.ResultsOverall, 474 samples (52.3%) were positive for at least one virus, with a total of 583 viruses detected. Single infections were detected in 380 (80.2%) samples and mixed infections were detected in 94 (19.8%). Respiratory syncytial virus (138/583, 23.7%) and rhinovirus (130/583, 22.3%) were the most commonly identified viruses, followed by SARS-CoV-2 (82/583, 14.1%). Respiratory syncytial virus predominated until February, with 129 detections; it then decreased drastically in March to only nine detections. SARS-CoV-2 was absent in the study area until February 26, 2020 and then reached 82 detections in just over a month. SARS-CoV-2 was found in mixed infections in only three cases, all observed in children younger than 1 year old.ConclusionsThis study showed a completely different trend between SARS-CoV-2 and the 'common' respiratory viruses: the common viruses mostly affected children, without any distinction according to sex, while SARS-CoV-2 mostly affected adult males.
| S-EPMC7530558 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe influenza B viruses belong to two lineages distinguished by their genetic and antigenic characteristics, which are referred to as the Yamagata and Victoria lineages, designated after their original isolates, B/Yamagata/16/88 and B/Victoria/2/87. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the molecular characteristics of influenza B viruses circulating in a region of Northern Italy, Lombardia, during the influenza season of 2015-2016.MethodsInfluenza B virus was detected using a respiratory virus panel of assays and an influenza B-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction. The complete influenza B hemagglutinin (HA) gene was amplified and sequenced directly from clinical specimens. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using nucleotide sequences.ResultsA total of 71 hospitalized pediatric patients were influenza B positive. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the great majority of influenza B strains (66/71, 93.0%) belonged to the Victoria-lineage and were antigenically like vaccine strain (B/Brisbane/60/2008) included only in the quadrivalent vaccine. In the detected influenza B strains, a series of amino acid changes were observed in the antigenic regions: I117V, V124A, N129D, V146I, N197D, T199A, and A202T. However, only 2 amino acid changes were observed in the HA regions involved in receptor binding or in antibody recognition.ConclusionsAll the influenza B strains identified in this study belonged to the influenza B Victoria lineage not included in the trivalent vaccine commonly used by the general population during the 2015-2016 influenza season in Italy. This indicates that protection against influenza B infection in the vaccinated population was in general very poor during the 2015-2016 influenza season.
| S-EPMC5648122 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is classified into RSV-A and RSV-B, which are further classified into genotypes based on variability in the G gene. The fusion (F) protein is highly conserved; however, variability within antigenic sites has been reported. This study aimed to characterise F proteins from RSV strains detected in South Africa from 2019 to 2020. Patients of all ages, from whom respiratory samples were submitted to the National Health Laboratory Service at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, South Africa during 2019 to 2020, were included. Complete RSV F genes were amplified for next-generation sequencing. MEGA X software was used for phylogenetic analysis. The overall prevalence of RSV was 5.8% (101/1734). Among 101 RSV positive samples only 69.3% (70/101) were available for characterization of the RSV F protein gene. Among cases included for F gene characterisation, viral co-infections were observed in 50% (35/70) and 25.7% (18/70) were admitted to intensive care units (ICU). About 74.2% (23/31) of F gene sequences cluster with other African NA1/ON1 genotypes. At antigenic site I, the V384I mutation was replaced by V384T in South African strains. The S275F mutation was seen in a single South African strain. The N120 N-linked glycosylation site was present in 25.8% (8/31) of RSV-A F proteins described in this study. For the first time, we detected the rare S275F mutation that is associated with palivizumab resistance.
| S-EPMC9698603 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC11299857 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The aim of the study was to determine the level of antibodies against hemagglutinin of influenza viruses in the serum of subjects belonging to seven different age groups in the 2019/2020 epidemic season. The level of anti-hemagglutinin antibodies was tested using the hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) test. The tests included 700 sera from all over Poland. Their results confirmed the presence of antibodies against the following influenza virus antigens: A/Brisbane/02/2018 (H1N1)pdm09 (48% of samples), A/Kansas/14/2017/ (H3N2) (74% of samples), B/Colorado/06/ 2017 Victoria line (26% of samples), and B/Phuket/3073/2013 Yamagata line (63% of samples). The level of antibodies against hemagglutinin varied between the age groups. The highest average (geometric mean) antibody titer (68.0) and the highest response rate (62%) were found for the strain A/Kansas/14/2017/ (H3N2). During the epidemic season in Poland, only 4.4% of the population was vaccinated.
| S-EPMC10052160 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory infections worldwide. While historically RSV research has been focused on children, data on RSV infection in adults are limited. The goal of this study was to establish the prevalence of RSV in community-dwelling Italian adults and analyze its genetic variability during the 2021/22 winter season.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, a random sample of naso-/oropharyngeal specimens from symptomatic adults seeking for SARS-CoV-2 molecular testing between December 2021 and March 2022 were tested for RSV and other respiratory pathogens by means of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. RSV-positive samples were further molecularly characterized by sequence analysis.ResultsOf 1,213 samples tested, 1.6% (95% CI: 0.9-2.4%) were positive for RSV and subgroups A (44.4%) and B (55.6%) were identified in similar proportions. The epidemic peak occurred in December 2021, when the RSV prevalence was as high as 4.6% (95% CI: 2.2-8.3%). The prevalence of RSV detection was similar (p = 0.64) to that of influenza virus (1.9%). All RSV A and B strains belonged to the ON1 and BA genotypes, respectively. Most (72.2%) RSV-positive samples were also positive for other pathogens being SARS-CoV-2, Streptococcus pneumoniae and rhinovirus the most frequent. RSV load was significantly higher among mono-detections than co-detections.ConclusionDuring the 2021/22 winter season, characterized by the predominant circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and some non-pharmaceutical containment measures still in place, a substantial proportion of Italian adults tested positive for genetically diversified strains of both RSV subtypes. In view of the upcoming registration of vaccines, establishment of the National RSV surveillance system is urgently needed.
| S-EPMC9990006 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Italy is particularly affected by SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19. Recently, Colombo and Impicciatore compared the deaths in 1084 selected municipalities between 21 February 2020 and 21 March 2020 with deaths in the same time period in 2015 to 2019. We extend analyses of data from the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) and calculate SMRs for all causes of death in the nine selected regions of Italy, separately for men and women and summarized. We analyze the effect of covariables by Poisson modelling and discuss the limitations of the current elaborations. We conclude: In agreement with Colombo and Impicciatore, in the particular corona situation, this "mortality excess loupe" - assuming otherwise constant determinants of death - can be a virus-test-independent tool to determine mortality effects of SARS-CoV-2. The current "loupe" is focused on municipalities with increases of more than 20% deaths in March 2020 compared to the average deaths on the same days in 2015-2019. The time window of investigation could be opened before 21 February 2020 to detect masked increases in mortality before the first "COVID-19 death" was ascertained. The current "loupe" conveys pronounced mortality increases also in regions that were not considered to be corona hotspots. In this respect, even in the absence of representative virus test results, mortality data can be important indicators of the distribution or spread of a newly acting factor. Overall, it is advisable to carry out SMR analyses for Germany on a regular basis, differentiated by region, gender, age group and cause of death. Such analyses can contribute to the early detection and evaluation of the severity of a deadly pandemic ("burden of disease") as well as to monitoring the dynamic spread of a factor such as SARS-CoV-2. SMR analyses can also be used to assess and evaluate both desired and undesired effects of measures taken against SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 - and possibly other epidemics or pandemics.
| S-EPMC7295299 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Epidemiological data of specific respiratory pathogens from the pre-COVID-19 period are essential to determine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on other respiratory infections. In this study, we revealed the pre-COVID-19 molecular epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among children in Bangladesh. We tested 3170 samples collected from 2008 to 2012 for a panel of respiratory viruses; RSV, human metapneumovirus (hMPV), human parainfluenza viruses (hPIV) 1, 2, 3, and adenovirus. Five hundred fifty-five samples (17.5 %) were positive for RSV, including 2.5% having co-infections with other viruses. Genotypic characterization of RSV showed that RSV-A (82%) contributed more acute respiratory infections than RSV-B (18%). Clinical features were similar with RSV-A and RSV-B infections. However, children with RSV-B were more likely to have upper respiratory infections (URI) (10% vs. 29%, p = 0.03). Among RSV-A cases, hospitalization was higher for ON1 cases (25%, ON1 vs. 8%, NA1, p = 0.04), whereas the recovery without a disability was higher among the NA1 cases (56%, ON1 vs. 88%, NA1, p = 0.02). The time to the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) for RSV in Bangladesh was 1949 for RSV-A and 1944 for RSV-B. This study revealed the genotypic diversity and evolutionary relatedness of RSV strains in Bangladesh and provided pre-COVID molecular epidemiology data to understand better the COVID-19 impact on upcoming RSV epidemiology in Bangladesh.
| S-EPMC9551109 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionSince August 2009, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has implemented sentinel site surveillance for rotavirus gastroenteritis. Limited hospital studies have been carried out, in DRC, describing the epidemiology of rotavirus diarrhea before rotavirus vaccine introduction in October 2019. This analysis describes the epidemiology of rotavirus gastroenteritis and characteristics of circulating viral strains from 2009 to 2019.Materials and methodsWe analyzed demographic and clinic data collected from children < 5 years old enrolled at three rotavirus sentinel surveillance sites in DRC during 2009-2019, prior to rotavirus vaccine introduction in 2019. Data have been described and presented as mean ± standard deviation for quantitative variables with normal distribution, or as median with an interquartile range [Q1-Q3] for quantitative variables with non-normal distribution, or as absolute value with percentage for qualitative variables.ResultsBetween August 2009 and December 2019, 4,928 children < 5 years old were admitted to sentinel surveillance sites for gastroenteritis in the DRC; the rotavirus positivity rate was 60 %. There was a slight male gender predominance (56 %), and the majority of children (79 %) were 0-11 months of age. Every year, the incidence was highest between May and September corresponding to the dry and cool season. Genotyping was performed for 50 % of confirmed rotavirus cases. The most common G genotypes were G1 (39 %) and G2 (24 %) and most common P genotypes were P[6] (49 %) and P[8] (37 %). The most common G-P genotype combinations were G1P[8] (22 %), G2P[6] (16 %) and G1P[6] (14 %). Genotype distribution varied by site, age group, and year.ConclusionFrom 2009 to 2019, rotavirus-associated gastroenteritis represented a significant burden among DRC children under 5 who were admitted to sentinel sites. G1P[8] was the most commonly identified genotype. Continued monitoring after the introduction of rotavirus vaccine will be essential to monitor any changes in epidemiology.
| S-EPMC11494495 | biostudies-literature