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Multiple clades of SARS‐CoV‐2 were introduced to Thailand during the first quarter of 2020
Author(s) -
Buathong Rome,
Chaifoo Walairat,
Iamsirithaworn Sopon,
Wacharapluesadee Supaporn,
Joyjinda Yutthana,
Rodpan Apaporn,
Ampoot Weenassarin,
Putcharoen Opass,
Paitoonpong Leilani,
Suwanpimolkul Gompol,
Jantarabenjakul Watsamon,
Petcharat Sininat,
Bunprakob Saowalak,
Ghai Siriporn,
Prasithsirikul Wisit,
Mungaomklang Anek,
Plipat Tanarak,
Hemachudha Thiravat
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1348-0421
pISSN - 0385-5600
DOI - 10.1111/1348-0421.12883
Subject(s) - quarter (canadian coin) , clade , covid-19 , biology , betacoronavirus , sars virus , pandemic , coronavirus , virology , coronavirus infections , phylogenetics , geography , genetics , archaeology , medicine , gene , infectious disease (medical specialty) , outbreak , disease , pathology
In early January 2020, Thailand became the first country where a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patient was identified outside China. In this study, 23 whole genomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) from patients who were hospitalized from January to March 2020 were analyzed, along with their travel histories. Six lineages were identified including A, A.6, B, B.1, B.1.8, and B.58, among which lineage A.6 was dominant. Seven patients were from China who traveled to Thailand in January and early February. Five of them were infected with the B lineage virus, and the other two cases were infected with different lineages including A and A.6. These findings present clear evidence of the early introduction of diverse SARS‐CoV‐2 clades in Thailand.