In:
PLOS Global Public Health, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 3, No. 2 ( 2023-2-9), p. e0000906-
Abstract:
In 2016, Tanzania expanded sentinel surveillance for influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) to include testing for non-influenza respiratory viruses (NIRVs) and additional respiratory pathogens at 9 sentinel sites. During 2017–2019, respiratory specimens from 2730 cases underwent expanded testing: 2475 specimens (90.7%) were tested using a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-developed assay covering 7 NIRVs (respiratory syncytial virus [RSV], rhinovirus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus 1, 2, and 3) and influenza A and B viruses. Additionally, 255 specimens (9.3% ) were tested using the Fast-Track Diagnostics Respiratory Pathogens 33 (FTD-33) kit which covered the mentioned viruses and additional viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. Influenza viruses were identified in 7.5% of all specimens; however, use of the CDC assay and FTD-33 kit increased the number of specimens with a pathogen identified to 61.8% and 91.5%, respectively. Among the 9 common viruses between the CDC assay and FTD-33 kit, the most identified pathogens were RSV (22.9%), rhinovirus (21.8%), and adenovirus (14.0%); multi-pathogen co-detections were common. Odds of hospitalization (SARI vs. ILI) varied by sex, age, geographic zone, year of diagnosis, and pathogen identified; hospitalized illnesses were most common among children under the age of 5 years. The greatest number of specimens were submitted for testing during December–April, coinciding with rainy seasons in Tanzania, and several viral pathogens demonstrated seasonal variation (RSV, human metapneumovirus, influenza A and B, and parainfluenza viruses). This study demonstrates that expanding an existing influenza platform to include additional respiratory pathogens can provide valuable insight into the etiology, incidence, severity, and geographic/temporal patterns of respiratory illness. Continued respiratory surveillance in Tanzania, and globally, can provide valuable data, particularly in the context of emerging respiratory pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, and guide public health interventions to reduce the burden of respiratory illnesses.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2767-3375
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pgph.0000906
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pgph.0000906.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pgph.0000906.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pgph.0000906.g003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pgph.0000906.g004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pgph.0000906.t001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pgph.0000906.t002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pgph.0000906.t003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pgph.0000906.t004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pgph.0000906.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pgph.0000906.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pgph.0000906.s003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pgph.0000906.s004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pgph.0000906.s005
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2023
detail.hit.zdb_id:
3101394-6
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