Open AccessRespiratory syncytial virus epidemic periods in an equatorial city of B razil
Author(s) -
Moura Fernanda E. A.,
Perdigão Anne C. B.,
Ribeiro Joyce F.,
Florêncio Caroline M. G. D.,
Oliveira Francisco M. S.,
Pereira Samuel A. R.,
Botosso Viviane F.,
Siqueira Marilda M.,
Thomazelli Luciano M.,
Caldeira Raquel N.,
Oliveira Danielle B. L.,
Durigon Edison L.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
influenza and other respiratory viruses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.743
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1750-2659
pISSN - 1750-2640
DOI - 10.1111/irv.12104
Subject(s) - virus , bronchiolitis , biology , virology , population , clade , gene , medicine , phylogenetics , genetics , environmental health
Background Characterization of the human respiratory syncytial virus ( HRSV ) season at the local level has important implications for appropriate decisions on the time period for administration of specific prophylaxis. Objectives (1) To describe five consecutive epidemic periods of HRSV in an equatorial city of B razil and (2) to show preliminary data on genomic diversity of circulating HRSV . Patients/Methods Nasopharyngeal aspirates of 2885 children attending the emergency room and wards of a public hospital were collected and screened by indirect immunofluorescence for HRSV infections during five consecutive years (from J anuary 2004 to D ecember 2008). In addition, the genetic and antigenic variability of the HRSV strains isolated was evaluated by partial nucleotide sequencing of the protein G gene. Results HRSV was detected in 15·8% of the analyzed samples. HRSV seasons occurred in a restricted period of each year. The onset of each HRSV season was variable ( F ebruary to M ay), but the end always occurred in J uly. From the 456 HRSV infections found, 86 cases with bronchiolitis were genotyped. Both HRSV subgroups ( A and B ) cocirculated during the five epidemic periods. The 58 HRSV ‐A strains grouped into two clades, GA 2 and GA 5. In respect of the HRSV ‐B strains, the 28 samples grouped into two clades: GB 3 and BA . Conclusions HRSV accounts for a substantial proportion of ARI in the study population. As in temperate countries, HRSV infections in this equatorial area of Brazil also cause seasonal yearly epidemics, and this has implications for prophylaxis strategies. The city of F ortaleza follows the same worldwide trend of circulation of genotypes of HRSV .