Work

Transmission patterns and evolution of respiratory syncytial virus in a community outbreak identified by genomic analysis

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: Detailed information on the source, spread and evolution of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during seasonal community outbreaks remains sparse.Molecular analyses of attachment (G) gene sequences from hospitalized cases suggest that multiple genotypes and variants co-circulate during epidemics and that RSV persistence over successive seasons is characterized by replacement and multiple new introductions of variants.No studies have defined the patterns of introduction, spread and evolution of RSV at the local community and household level.We present a whole genome sequence analysis of 131 RSV group A viruses collected during 6-month household-based RSV infection surveillance in Coastal Kenya, 2010 within an area of 12 km 2 .RSV infections were identified by regular symptom-independent screening of all household members twice weekly.Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the RSV A viruses in nine households were closely related to genotype GA2 and fell within a single branch of the global phylogeny.Genomic analysis allowed the detection of householdspecific variation in seven households.For comparison, using only G gene analysis, household-specific variation was found only in one of the nine households.Nucleotide changes were observed both intra-host (viruses identified from same individual in follow-up sampling) and inter-host (viruses identified from different household members) and these coupled with V

Source: Virus Evolution

DOI: 10.1093/ve/vex006