Circulating respiratory viruses including SARS-CoV-2 during 2021–2022 season in Tunisia: Epidemiological and dynamic changes

IF 2.3 Q2 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health Pub Date : 2024-11-01 DOI:10.1016/j.cegh.2024.101824

Awatef Taktak , Saba Gargouri , Amel Chtourou , Fahmi Smaoui , Rim Karray , Noureddine Rekik , Lamia Feki-Berrajah , Héla Karray-Hakim

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Changing patterns in community respiratory virus activity were reported in different geographical locations during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of circulating respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, during the season 2021–2022 in Tunisia.

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled 328 nasopharyngeal samples received at the Triage Center of Habib Bourguiba Hospital from patients with acute respiratory symptoms during September 2021–May 2022. All samples were screened for both SARS-CoV-2 and common respiratory viruses. This latter detection was performed using end-point multiplex RT-PCRs, Real-Time PCR, and AllplexTM Respiratory Panel 1 kit (Seegene) for Influenza Virus A (IFVA) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) subtyping.

Results

Among included patients, at least one viral pathogen was identified in 118 (35.9 %) patients. The detection rate of SARS-CoV-2 was 21.6 %. A low viral coinfection rate was observed (3.3 %). The most prevalent pathogen among non-SARS-CoV-2 viruses was Enterovirus/Rhinovirus (HEV/HRV) (59.6 %) followed by IFVA (15.3 %) and Adenoviruses (ADV) (11.5 %). Only IFVA H3N2 was found to circulate during the study period. A negative virus interaction was eventually induced by SARS-CoV-2, as it was shown by lower levels of activity of non-SARS-CoV-2 viruses (not exceeding 17.7 %) while infections due to pandemic Omicron variants of concern became widespread.

Conclusions

This study highlights the relative return of community IFVA circulation during the 2021–2022 season in Tunisia. A negative viral interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses is highly suggested, which explains, in addition to the easing of COVID-19 restriction measures, the epidemiological changes in non-SARS-CoV-2 viruses circulation.

查看原文本刊更多论文

突尼斯 2021-2022 年季节期间包括 SARS-CoV-2 在内的呼吸道病毒循环：流行病学和动态变化

背景据报道，在 COVID-19 大流行期间，不同地区的社区呼吸道病毒活动模式不断变化。本研究旨在评估 2021-2022 年期间突尼斯流行的呼吸道病毒（包括 SARS-CoV-2）的流行情况。方法我们回顾性地采集了哈比卜-布尔吉巴医院分诊中心在 2021 年 9 月至 2022 年 5 月期间从急性呼吸道症状患者处获得的 328 份鼻咽样本。我们对所有样本进行了 SARS-CoV-2 和普通呼吸道病毒筛查。后者的检测采用端点多重 RT-PCR、实时 PCR 和 AllplexTM Respiratory Panel 1 试剂盒（Seegene）进行甲型流感病毒 (IFVA) 和呼吸道合胞病毒 (RSV) 亚型鉴定。SARS-CoV-2 的检出率为 21.6%。病毒合并感染率较低（3.3%）。非 SARS-CoV-2 病毒中最常见的病原体是肠道病毒/鼻病毒 (HEV/HRV)（59.6%），其次是 IFVA（15.3%）和腺病毒 (ADV)（11.5%）。在研究期间，只发现 IFVA H3N2 在流行。非 SARS-CoV-2 病毒的活动水平较低（不超过 17.7%），而令人担忧的大流行性 Omicron 变种导致的感染却很普遍，这表明 SARS-CoV-2 最终诱发了病毒的负交互作用。除了 COVID-19 限制措施的放松外，这也解释了非 SARS-CoV-2 病毒流行的流行病学变化。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-

CiteScore

4.60

自引率

7.70%

发文量

218

审稿时长

66 days

期刊介绍： Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health (CEGH) is a multidisciplinary journal and it is published four times (March, June, September, December) a year. The mandate of CEGH is to promote articles on clinical epidemiology with focus on developing countries in the context of global health. We also accept articles from other countries. It publishes original research work across all disciplines of medicine and allied sciences, related to clinical epidemiology and global health. The journal publishes Original articles, Review articles, Evidence Summaries, Letters to the Editor. All articles published in CEGH are peer-reviewed and published online for immediate access and citation.