Genetic diversity and its impact on disease severity in respiratory syncytial virus subtype-A and -B bronchiolitis before and after pandemic restrictions in Rome

Pierangeli, A; Nenna, Raffaella; Fracella, Matteo; Scagnolari, C; Oliveto, Giuseppe; Sorrentino, Leonardo; Frasca, Francesca; Conti, MG; Petrarca, Laura; Papoff, Paola; Turriziani, Ombretta; Antonelli, Guido; Stefanelli, Paola; Palamara, A T; Midulla, Fabio

doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2023.07.008

Cited by 27 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 42 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Significant declines in RSV genetic diversity during the implementation of COVID-19-related restrictions have also been observed in other countries ( Eden et al, 2022 ). Our findings were consistent with reports from other European countries, where the 2022–2023 outbreak was also driven by RSV-B ( Redlberger-Fritz et al, 2021 ; Munkstrup et al, 2023 ; Pierangeli et al, 2023 ). During the period preceding the pandemic, year-to-year fluctuations in the incidences of RSV-A and RSV-B were observed in Bulgaria ( Korsun et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Our previous study showed that RSV infections follow a seasonal pattern, occurring predominantly in winter and early spring, with very few cases occurring during the summer ( Korsun et al, 2021 ). During the 2022–2023 season, RSV was in circulation from November to late March, with peak activity in December 2022, which is consistent with data from other European countries ( Jepsen et al, 2018 ; Gimferrer et al, 2019 ; Pierangeli et al, 2023 ). From 2020 to 2021, the typical seasonality of RSV was disrupted because of the applied anti-COVID-19 measures.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus with dominance of RSV-B during the 2022–2023 season

Korsun,

Trifonova,

Madzharova

et al. 2024

Front. Microbiol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of upper and lower respiratory tract infections. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory viruses in Bulgaria, characterize the genetic diversity of RSV strains, and perform amino acid sequence analyses of RSV surface and internal proteins.MethodsClinical and epidemiological data and nasopharyngeal swabs were prospectively collected from patients with acute respiratory infections between October 2020 and May 2023. Real-time PCR for 13 respiratory viruses, whole-genome sequencing, phylogenetic, and amino acid analyses were performed.ResultsThis study included three epidemic seasons (2020–2021, 2021–2022, and 2022–2023) from week 40 of the previous year to week 20 of the following year. Of the 3,047 patients examined, 1,813 (59.5%) tested positive for at least one viral respiratory pathogen. RSV was the second most detected virus (10.9%) after SARS-CoV-2 (22%). Coinfections between RSV and other respiratory viruses were detected in 68 cases, including 14 with SARS-CoV-2. After two seasons of low circulation, RSV activity increased significantly during the 2022–2023 season. The detection rates of RSV were 3.2, 6.6, and 13.7% in the first, second, and third seasons, respectively. RSV was the most common virus found in children under 5 years old with bronchiolitis (40%) and pneumonia (24.5%). RSV-B drove the 2022–2023 epidemic. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the sequenced RSV-B strains belonged to the GB5.0.5a and GB5.0.6a genotypes. Amino acid substitutions in the surface and internal proteins, including the F protein antigenic sites were identified compared to the BA prototype strain.ConclusionThis study revealed a strong resurgence of RSV in the autumn of 2022 after the lifting of anti-COVID-19 measures, the leading role of RSV as a causative agent of serious respiratory illnesses in early childhood, and relatively low genetic diversity in circulating RSV strains.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus with dominance of RSV-B during the 2022–2023 season

Korsun,

Trifonova,

Madzharova

et al. 2024

Front. Microbiol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…First, our sample, with 12.2% of children having had bronchiolitis, confirmed that this respiratory infection is common in Italy and this is in line with the last Italian national report of April 2024, describing that in the previous months RSV infection was the second most common respiratory infection after influenza [22]. This trend is also described in a recent Italian study, where an increased number of total RSV cases was associated with the limitation measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which had restricted the transmission of respiratory viruses [23]. Moreover, an increased number of hospitalizations caused by RSV infection has been described worldwide, with more severe diseases in infants compared with previous periods, explained by a more virulent infection [24,25].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Respiratory Syncytial Vaccination: Parents’ Willingness to Vaccinate Their Children

Sansone,

Angelillo,

Licata

et al. 2024

Vaccines

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: This study was conducted to assess parents’ willingness to vaccinate their children with the RSV vaccine and the key predictors of this intention among parents in Italy. Methods: Data were collected using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire from April to November 2023, targeting parents in public kindergartens and nursery schools in southern Italy. The survey assessed parents’ socio-demographic characteristics, health-related details, their child’s health status, attitudes toward RSV infection and its vaccine, and their source(s) of information. Results: A total of 404 parents agreed to participate in the study. Only 18.2% of participants were very concerned that their children could get infected by RSV, and this concern was more likely among parents whose child had been diagnosed with bronchiolitis, those who received information from HCWs, those who had heard of RSV, and those who needed additional information. Almost half (51.3%) were willing to vaccinate their child, and this inclination was more likely among fathers, employed parents, those with daughters, those who had heard of RSV, those who received information from HCWs, and those who needed additional information. Conclusions: An educational campaign regarding a future RSV vaccine, especially about its safety and efficacy, is needed in order to improve parents’ willingness.

show abstract

“…The resurgence of HRSV cases after reduced transmission during the early phase of the pandemic has been reported in Australia and Austria [24 , 25] . A study in Italy and another in Australia analyzed the molecular characteristics of HRSV before and during the pandemic [24 , 26] . However, the evolutionary pattern behind the resurgence is unclear.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of human respiratory syncytial virus in children with severe acute respiratory infection before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Simusika,

Okamoto,

Dapat

et al. 2024

IJID Regions

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Genetic diversity and its impact on disease severity in respiratory syncytial virus subtype-A and -B bronchiolitis before and after pandemic restrictions in Rome

Cited by 27 publications

References 42 publications

Resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus with dominance of RSV-B during the 2022–2023 season

Resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus with dominance of RSV-B during the 2022–2023 season

Respiratory Syncytial Vaccination: Parents’ Willingness to Vaccinate Their Children

Characterization of human respiratory syncytial virus in children with severe acute respiratory infection before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About