Whole genome molecular analysis of respiratory syncytial virus pre and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Free State province, South Africa.

ABSTRACT: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most predominant viral pathogen worldwide in children with lower respiratory tract infections. The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and resulting nonpharmaceutical interventions perturbed the transmission pattern of respiratory pathogens in South Africa. A seasonality shift and RSV resurgence was observed in 2020 and 2021, with several infected children observed. Conventional RSV-positive nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from various hospitals in the Free State province, Bloemfontein, South Africa, from children suffering from respiratory distress and severe acute respiratory infection between 2020 to 2021. Overlapping genome fragments were amplified and complete genomes were sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Maximum likeli

SUBMITTER: Sondlane H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11283024 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature