Detection of Victoria lineage influenza B viruses with K162 and N163 deletions in the hemagglutinin gene, South Africa, 2018.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A group of Victoria lineage influenza B viruses with a two amino acid deletion in the hemagglutinin (HA) at residues K162 and N163, was detected during the 2016 to 2017 Northern Hemisphere influenza season and continues to spread geographically. We describe the first identification of viruses with these deletions from South Africa in 2018.

Methods

Nasopharyngeal samples were obtained from the syndromic surveillance programs. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used for virus detection and lineage determination. Influenza genetic characterization was done using next-generation sequencing on the MiSeq platform. The duration of virus circulation was determined using thresholds calculated using the Moving Epidemic Method; duration was used as

SUBMITTER: Hellferscee O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8448392 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature