Work

Genotypic analysis of rhinovirus and human respiratory syncytial virus in sudden unexpected death in infancy cases at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Infant mortality remains a major global concern. Sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) is reported globally and an infant mortality rate of 23.129 per 1 000 live births has been reported in the Western Cape, South Africa, in 2024. Infections are often confirmed in SUDI cases admitted to the Tygerberg Medico-legal Mortuary in Cape Town, but molecular diversity in respiratory viruses is underreported. A total of 162 previously confirmed polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive trachea and / or lung samples from SUDI cases collected between 2015 and 2019 were retested for either rhinovirus or human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Sixty-four samples were positive for rhinovirus and 15 for RSV. Results from 5 of all positive samples were outside the PCR assay amplification limits determined by the cycle threshold (Ct) value and were excluded. Another 4 samples did not amplify, and the remaining 70 underwent subsequent sequencing, but successful sequences could only be obtained in 53 samples. All three rhinovirus (A, B and C) genotypes were identified, with RV-A most prevalent, followed by RV-C and RV-B. RSV-A and RSV-B were detected equally, and after amino acid alignment, 20 amino acid duplication and nine substitutions were found that confirmed two RSV-BA9 genotypes. This study describes the molecular and phylogenetic characterisation of specific respiratory viruses in SUDI cases in South Africa. However, the rapid decline in viral viability in post-mortem samples does not allow correlation between viral genotypes and cause of death or disease severity. Future prospective studies should therefore investigate temporality and associations between specific viral strains and clinical disease severity and mortality. • Rhinovirus and RSV are two of the most common respiratory viruses detected in SUDI cases. • No genotypic information on detected viruses is available in SUDI cases. • Rhinovirus and RSV genotypes in SUDI cases and children with respiratory disease worldwide are similar. • Declining viral viability after death limits correlation between genotypes and disease severity.

Source: Journal of Virological Methods

DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2025.115150

Authors: Corena de Beer, Hameer Deepak Vanmali

Institution: Stellenbosch University

Language: English

Topic: Respiratory viral infections research

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,210