Circulation of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: In many countries, non-pharmaceutical interventions to limit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission resulted in significant reductions in other respiratory viruses. However, similar data from Africa are limited. We explored the extent to which viruses s...

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Main Authors: Sheikh Jarju, Helen Brotherton, Elina Senghore, Samba Jallow, Alasana Saidykhan, Edrisa Sinjanka, Beate Kampmann, Edrissa Krubally, Fabakary Bajo, Morris Ngor Ndene, Binta Saidy, Musa M Sanyang, Nuredin I Muhammed, Alasana Bah, Ed Clarke, Karen Forrest, Abdul K Sesay, Umberto Dalessandro, Carla Cerami, Effua Usuf, Thushan I de Silva, Anna Roca
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: F1000 Research Ltd 2022-12-01
Series:Gates Open Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://gatesopenresearch.org/articles/6-148/v1
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author Sheikh Jarju
Helen Brotherton
Elina Senghore
Samba Jallow
Alasana Saidykhan
Edrisa Sinjanka
Beate Kampmann
Edrissa Krubally
Fabakary Bajo
Morris Ngor Ndene
Binta Saidy
Musa M Sanyang
Nuredin I Muhammed
Alasana Bah
Ed Clarke
Karen Forrest
Abdul K Sesay
Umberto Dalessandro
Carla Cerami
Effua Usuf
Thushan I de Silva
Anna Roca
author_facet Sheikh Jarju
Helen Brotherton
Elina Senghore
Samba Jallow
Alasana Saidykhan
Edrisa Sinjanka
Beate Kampmann
Edrissa Krubally
Fabakary Bajo
Morris Ngor Ndene
Binta Saidy
Musa M Sanyang
Nuredin I Muhammed
Alasana Bah
Ed Clarke
Karen Forrest
Abdul K Sesay
Umberto Dalessandro
Carla Cerami
Effua Usuf
Thushan I de Silva
Anna Roca
author_sort Sheikh Jarju
collection DOAJ
description Background: In many countries, non-pharmaceutical interventions to limit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission resulted in significant reductions in other respiratory viruses. However, similar data from Africa are limited. We explored the extent to which viruses such as influenza and rhinovirus co-circulated with SARS-CoV-2 in The Gambia during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Methods: Between April 2020 and March 2022, respiratory viruses were detected using RT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs from 1397 participants with influenza-like illness. An assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 and a viral multiplex RT-PCR assay was used as previously described  to detect influenza A and B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) A and B, parainfluenza viruses 1-4, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), adenovirus, seasonal coronaviruses (229E, OC43, NL63) and human rhinovirus. Results: Overall virus positivity was 44.2%, with prevalence higher in children <5 years (80%) compared to children aged 5-17 years (53.1%), adults aged 18-50 (39.5%) and >50 years (39.9%), p<0.0001. After SARS-CoV-2 (18.3%), rhinoviruses (10.5%) and influenza viruses (5.5%) were the most prevalent. SARS-CoV-2 positivity was lower in children <5 (4.3%) and 5-17 years (12.7%) than in adults aged 18-50 (19.3%) and >50 years (24.3%), p<0.0001. In contrast, rhinoviruses were most prevalent in children <5 years (28.7%), followed by children aged 5-17 (15.8%), adults aged 18-50 (8.3%) and >50 years (6.3%), p<0.0001. Four SARS-CoV-2 waves occurred, with 36.1%-52.4% SARS-CoV-2 positivity during peak months. Influenza infections were observed in both 2020 and 2021 during the rainy season as expected (peak positivity 16.4%-23.5%). Peaks of rhinovirus were asynchronous to the months when SARS-CoV-2 and influenza peaked. Conclusion: Our data show that many respiratory viruses continued to circulate during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia, including human rhinoviruses, despite the presence of NPIs during the early stages of the pandemic, and influenza peaks during expected months.
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spelling doaj.art-eaa82f35bd6b46c5b9fde599d4f315652023-01-28T01:00:00ZengF1000 Research LtdGates Open Research2572-47542022-12-01615460Circulation of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]Sheikh Jarju0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2621-8406Helen Brotherton1Elina Senghore2Samba Jallow3Alasana Saidykhan4Edrisa Sinjanka5Beate Kampmann6Edrissa Krubally7Fabakary Bajo8Morris Ngor Ndene9Binta Saidy10Musa M Sanyang11Nuredin I Muhammed12Alasana Bah13https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4489-4627Ed Clarke14Karen Forrest15Abdul K Sesay16Umberto Dalessandro17Carla Cerami18Effua Usuf19Thushan I de Silva20Anna Roca21Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P.O.BOX 273, The GambiaBackground: In many countries, non-pharmaceutical interventions to limit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission resulted in significant reductions in other respiratory viruses. However, similar data from Africa are limited. We explored the extent to which viruses such as influenza and rhinovirus co-circulated with SARS-CoV-2 in The Gambia during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Methods: Between April 2020 and March 2022, respiratory viruses were detected using RT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs from 1397 participants with influenza-like illness. An assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 and a viral multiplex RT-PCR assay was used as previously described  to detect influenza A and B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) A and B, parainfluenza viruses 1-4, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), adenovirus, seasonal coronaviruses (229E, OC43, NL63) and human rhinovirus. Results: Overall virus positivity was 44.2%, with prevalence higher in children <5 years (80%) compared to children aged 5-17 years (53.1%), adults aged 18-50 (39.5%) and >50 years (39.9%), p<0.0001. After SARS-CoV-2 (18.3%), rhinoviruses (10.5%) and influenza viruses (5.5%) were the most prevalent. SARS-CoV-2 positivity was lower in children <5 (4.3%) and 5-17 years (12.7%) than in adults aged 18-50 (19.3%) and >50 years (24.3%), p<0.0001. In contrast, rhinoviruses were most prevalent in children <5 years (28.7%), followed by children aged 5-17 (15.8%), adults aged 18-50 (8.3%) and >50 years (6.3%), p<0.0001. Four SARS-CoV-2 waves occurred, with 36.1%-52.4% SARS-CoV-2 positivity during peak months. Influenza infections were observed in both 2020 and 2021 during the rainy season as expected (peak positivity 16.4%-23.5%). Peaks of rhinovirus were asynchronous to the months when SARS-CoV-2 and influenza peaked. Conclusion: Our data show that many respiratory viruses continued to circulate during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia, including human rhinoviruses, despite the presence of NPIs during the early stages of the pandemic, and influenza peaks during expected months.https://gatesopenresearch.org/articles/6-148/v1SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viruses surveillance Influenza like illnesseng
spellingShingle Sheikh Jarju
Helen Brotherton
Elina Senghore
Samba Jallow
Alasana Saidykhan
Edrisa Sinjanka
Beate Kampmann
Edrissa Krubally
Fabakary Bajo
Morris Ngor Ndene
Binta Saidy
Musa M Sanyang
Nuredin I Muhammed
Alasana Bah
Ed Clarke
Karen Forrest
Abdul K Sesay
Umberto Dalessandro
Carla Cerami
Effua Usuf
Thushan I de Silva
Anna Roca
Circulation of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
Gates Open Research
SARS-CoV-2
respiratory viruses
surveillance
Influenza like illness
eng
title Circulation of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
title_full Circulation of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
title_fullStr Circulation of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
title_full_unstemmed Circulation of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
title_short Circulation of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]
title_sort circulation of respiratory viruses during the covid 19 pandemic in the gambia version 1 peer review 2 approved
topic SARS-CoV-2
respiratory viruses
surveillance
Influenza like illness
eng
url https://gatesopenresearch.org/articles/6-148/v1
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