Virological Surveillance of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus A and B at a Tertiary Hospital in Catalonia (Spain) During Five Consecutive Seasons (2013–2018)

Abstract

Aim: Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is the main cause of respiratory tract infections among infants. Materials & methods: In the present study, the molecular epidemiology of HRSV detected from 2013 to 2017 has been described. Results: A 10% of collected samples were laboratory confirmed for HRSV. Patients under 2 years of age were the main susceptible population to respiratory syncytial virus disease, but an increasingly number of confirmed patients over 65years of age was reported. Epidemics usually started in autumn and ended in spring. Both HRSV groups co-circulated every season, but the HRSV-B was the most predominant. HRSV-A and HRSV-B strains mainly belonged to ON1 and BA9 genotypes, respectively. Conclusion: The present study reports recent data about the genetic diversity of circulating HRSV in Spain.

Keywords: :

• epidemiology
• genotypes
• HRSV
• HRSV-A, HRSV-B, molecular characterization
• lineages
• phylogeny
• respiratory infection
• surveillance

Supplementary data

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Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was partially supported by national Plan of R+D+I 2008–2011 and by Carlos III Health Institute, Subdirectorate-General of networks and cooperative research Centers, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD16/0016/0003); By Health Research Fund, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (grants FIS PI14/01838 and PI18/00685); and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

Institutional Review Board approval (PR_AG_78/2014) was obtained from Vall d'Hebron University Hospital Clinical Research Ethics Committee.

Additional information

Funding

This work was partially supported by national Plan of R+D+I 2008–2011 and by Carlos III Health Institute, Subdirectorate-General of networks and cooperative research Centers, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD16/0016/0003); By Health Research Fund, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (grants FIS PI14/01838 and PI18/00685); and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed