Changes in HRSV Epidemiology but Not Circulating Variants in Hospitalized Children due to the Emergence of SARS-CoV-2

Viruses. 2023 May 23;15(6):1218. doi: 10.3390/v15061218.

Abstract

This study assesses the circulation of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) genotypes before, during, and toward the end of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in children and determines the influence of the pandemic on HRSV circulation patterns and evolution. Phylogenetic analysis of the hypervariable glycoprotein G gene was performed on 221/261 (84.7%) HRSV-positive samples and shows two separated clusters, one belonging to HRSV-A (129/221) and another to HRSV-B (92/221). All Slovenian HRSV-A strains contained the 72-nucleotide-long duplicated region in the attachment glycoprotein G gene and were classified as lineage GA2.3.5. All Slovenian HRSV-B strains similarly contained a 60-nucleotide-long duplicated region in the attachment glycoprotein G gene and were classified as lineage GB5.0.5a. During the 3-year period (2018-2021) covered by the study, no significant differences were observed within strains detected before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, during it, and after the implementation of nonpharmaceutical preventive measures. Slovenian HRSV-A strains seem to be more diverse than HRSV-B strains. Therefore, further whole-genome investigations would be required for better monitoring of the long-term impact of SARS-CoV-2 endemic circulation and the formation of new HRSV lineages and epidemiological patterns.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; epidemiology; genotyping; human respiratory syncytial virus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Hospitalized
  • Genotype
  • Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Phylogeny
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections* / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human* / genetics
  • SARS-CoV-2 / genetics

Substances

  • Glycoproteins

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, by the Slovenian Research Agency (grant P3-0083), and by the European Virus Archive—GLOBAL project, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 871029.