Epidemiological and phylogenetic assessment of human respiratory syncytial virus among pediatric patients presenting acute respiratory infections in Shiraz, Iran during 2015-2016

Saber Mojarrad; Nahid Tavakoli Movaghar; Fahime Edalat; Arash Letafati; Zahra Kargar Jahromi; Afagh Moattari

doi:10.18502/ijm.v16i3.15798

Saber Mojarrad Department of Bacteriology & Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Nahid Tavakoli Movaghar Department of Bacteriology & Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Fahime Edalat Department of Bacteriology & Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Arash Letafati Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Kargar Jahromi Department of Bacteriology & Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Afagh Moattari Department of Bacteriology & Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v16i3.15798

Keywords: Bronchoalveolar lavage; Immunocompromised patient; Fluconazole; Amphotericin B

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The pediatric population worldwide bears a significant morbidity and death burden due to acute respiratory infections (ARIs). Human Orthopneumovirus, sometimes referred to as the Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (HRSV), is one of the main causes of ARIs in infants. The main goal of this study was to identify the genetic diversity of HRSV strains that were circulating in the Iranian population at a certain time of year.

Materials and Methods: Two hundred youngsters less than 12 years old with acute respiratory infections had samples taken from their throat and pharynx secretions. Then, external and hemi-nested PCR were employed, using specific primers target- ing the G gene region to detect HRSV. Subsequently, nine randomly selected positive samples were subjected to sequencing. The results were then compared with reference strains cataloged in GeneBank, and phylogenetic tree was constructed using Chromes and MEGA7.

Results: Out of 200 samples, 34 were identified as containing HRSV. Subgroup A was predominant, accounting for 61.76% of cases, followed by subgroup BA (35.29%) and subgroup B (2.94%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed five samples associ- ated with subtype B and four with genotype A. Genomic analysis showed three samples under the GA2 subgroup and one under GA1 for subtype A, and four samples in subgroup BA and one in GB2 for subtype B.

Conclusion: In this study, subgroup A strains, particularly genotype GA2, exhibited a higher prevalence compared to sub-group B strains during the specific period under investigation, shedding light on the genetic landscape of HRSV in this region.