Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Rhinovirus Dominate the Diverse Landscape of Respiratory Viruses during the Three Months Prior to the Influenza Epidemic of the 2022–2023 Season in Latvia

  • Baiba Niedre-Otomere (Speaker)
  • Julija Trofimova (Co-author)
  • Andra Pushkarjova (Co-author)
  • Tatiana Katasonova (Co-author)
  • Ināra Kampenusa (Co-author)
  • Lada Korpeikina (Co-author)
  • Maira Dzene (Co-author)
  • Ilva Pole (Co-author)
  • Gatis Pakarna (Co-author)
  • Sergejs Nikisins (Co-author)
  • Savicka, O. (Co-author)

Activity: Talk or presentation types › Poster presentation

Description

A methodical surveillance network for viruses transmitted by the respiratory route is one of the milestones of pandemic preparedness. In September 2022 National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL) established the monitoring programme for respiratory viruses aimed to cover regional and central hospitals. . 392 nasopharyngeal swabs from patients with acute respiratory tract illness symptoms were submitted at the NMRL by Liepaja Regional Hospital, Jelgava Hospital, Vidzeme Hospital, and Riga East University Hospital from September 8 to December 9. 233 swabs were subjected to multiplexed real-time PCR by Anyplex II (Seegene) and tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by Allplex-SARS-CoV-2 Assay (Seegene), Cobas-6800 (Roche), Alinity-mSARS-CoV-2 Assay (Abbott), or Xpert Xpress-SARS-CoV-2/Flu/RSV (Cepheid). 159 swabs were tested by QIAstat-Dx Respiratory-SARS-CoV-2 panel (Qiagen). The patients represent six age groups: 0–4, 5–15, 15–29, 30–44, 45–64 and ≥65 (n=117, 35, 36, 52, 47, 105, respectively).. We detected viruses of six genera definable as mono-infections (n=165; 72%) and co-infections (n=63; 28%) presented by 37 combinations of 13 viruses, ranging from two (n=50; 27%) to five viruses (n=1) per patient. 228 swabs (58%) were positive for one or more respiratory viruses. Dominating infected age group was young children (age 0–4; n=105; 46%). Co-infections exceeded a quarter of the positive swabs, occurring mostly among young children (age 0–4, n=48; 76%). The most frequently detected were respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rhinovirus (RV) (n=88 and n=83; 75% in total, including undifferentiated RV/enterovirus by Qiagen (n=19)). The third of RSV-positive patients (n=31; 35%) were co-infected. The most recurrent partners of RSV were the RV (n=17; 55%) and adenovirus (n=9; 29%).. The monitoring programme enabled us to unveil the diverse respiratory virus landscape three months before the influenza epidemic in Latvia. The sustainability of the programme is a collaborative effort of many stakeholders, and the involvement of more hospitals is desired.
Period27 Mar 2023 → 31 Mar 2023
Event titleRSU Research Week 2023: Research Week 2023 Rīga Stradiņš University
Event typeConference
OrganiserRiga Stradins University
LocationRiga, LatviaShow on map
Degree of RecognitionInternational