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Alemán GV, Cerpas C, Juarez JG, Moreira H, Arguello S, Coloma J, Harris E, Gordon A, Bennett SN, Balmaseda Á. Tracking the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Nicaragua throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.03.596876. [PMID: 38895444 PMCID: PMC11185506 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.03.596876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
The global circulation of SARS-CoV-2 has been extensively documented, yet the dynamics within Central America, particularly Nicaragua, remain underexplored. This study characterizes the genomic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 in Nicaragua from March 2020 through December 2022, utilizing 1064 genomes obtained via next-generation sequencing. These sequences were selected nationwide and analyzed for variant classification, lineage predominance, and phylogenetic diversity. We employed both Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technologies for all sequencing procedures. Results indicated a temporal and spatial shift in dominant lineages, initially from B.1 and A.2 in early 2020 to various Omicron subvariants towards the study's end. Significant lineage shifts correlated with changes in COVID-19 positivity rates, underscoring the epidemiological impact of variant dissemination. The comparative analysis with regional data underscored the low diversity of circulating lineages in Nicaragua and their delayed introduction compared to other countries in the Central American region. The study also linked specific viral mutations with hospitalization rates, emphasizing the clinical relevance of genomic surveillance. This research advances the understanding of SARS-CoV-2 evolution in Nicaragua and provide valuable information regarding its genetic diversity for public health officials in Central America. We highlight the critical role of ongoing genomic surveillance in identifying emergent lineages and informing public health strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cristhiam Cerpas
- Sustainable Sciences Institute, Managua, Nicaragua
- Laboratorio Nacional de Virología, Centro Nacional de Diagnóstico y Referencia Ministerio de Salud, Managua, Nicaragua
| | | | | | | | - Josefina Coloma
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Eva Harris
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Ángel Balmaseda
- Sustainable Sciences Institute, Managua, Nicaragua
- Laboratorio Nacional de Virología, Centro Nacional de Diagnóstico y Referencia Ministerio de Salud, Managua, Nicaragua
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da Silva LG, Bezerra IMP, Santos GL, de Abreu LC. Comparative Analysis of Epidemiological Outcome of Incidence, Mortality and Lethality by COVID-19 between the States of Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais, Brazil. EPIDEMIOLOGIA 2024; 5:250-266. [PMID: 38920752 PMCID: PMC11202499 DOI: 10.3390/epidemiologia5020017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
At the beginning of December 2019, a new type of coronavirus emerged, SARS-CoV-2. This virus causes COVID-19, a highly contagious disease that can initially present asymptomatically and can also lead to death. Our ecological study goal was to evaluate the incidence, mortality, and lethality rates for COVID-19 between the states of Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais, with time series analysis using secondary and public databases on COVID-19 from January 2020 to December 2022. Prais-Winsten linear regression was used for trend analyses. In 2020, the rate in Espírito Santo was 2.19 times greater than in Minas Gerais. This trend continued in 2021, with Espírito Santo's rate being 1.29 times greater. In 2022, Espírito Santo's rate remained 2.65 times higher than Minas Gerais. Furthermore, Espírito Santo had the highest mortality, with the exception of 2021. In turn, Minas Gerais had the highest fatality rate throughout the analyzed pandemic period. The state of Espírito Santo had a higher incidence of COVID-19, as well as higher mortality when compared to the state of Minas Gerais. Furthermore, both states showed similar trends for mortality, lethality, and incidence in the years 2020 and 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Gomes da Silva
- Study Design and Scientific Writing Laboratory, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória 29043-900, Brazil; (G.L.S.); (L.C.d.A.)
- Postgraduate Program in Public Health, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória 29043-900, Brazil
- Department of Nursing, School of Sciences of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória (EMESCAM), Vitória 29045-402, Brazil
| | - Italla Maria Pinheiro Bezerra
- Postgraduate Program in Public Policies and Local Development, School of Sciences of Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória (EMESCAM), Vitória 29045-402, Brazil;
| | - Gabriella Lima Santos
- Study Design and Scientific Writing Laboratory, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória 29043-900, Brazil; (G.L.S.); (L.C.d.A.)
- Postgraduate Program in Public Health, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória 29043-900, Brazil
| | - Luiz Carlos de Abreu
- Study Design and Scientific Writing Laboratory, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória 29043-900, Brazil; (G.L.S.); (L.C.d.A.)
- Associate Clinical Professor at University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland
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Sunahara AS, Pessa AAB, Perc M, Ribeiro HV. Complexity of the COVID-19 pandemic in Maringá. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12695. [PMID: 37542059 PMCID: PMC10403588 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39815-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
While extensive literature exists on the COVID-19 pandemic at regional and national levels, understanding its dynamics and consequences at the city level remains limited. This study investigates the pandemic in Maringá, a medium-sized city in Brazil's South Region, using data obtained by actively monitoring the disease from March 2020 to June 2022. Despite prompt and robust interventions, COVID-19 cases increased exponentially during the early spread of COVID-19, with a reproduction number lower than that observed during the initial outbreak in Wuhan. Our research demonstrates the remarkable impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on both mobility and pandemic indicators, particularly during the onset and the most severe phases of the emergency. However, our results suggest that the city's measures were primarily reactive rather than proactive. Maringá faced six waves of cases, with the third and fourth waves being the deadliest, responsible for over two-thirds of all deaths and overwhelming the local healthcare system. Excess mortality during this period exceeded deaths attributed to COVID-19, indicating that the burdened healthcare system may have contributed to increased mortality from other causes. By the end of the fourth wave, nearly three-quarters of the city's population had received two vaccine doses, significantly decreasing deaths despite the surge caused by the Omicron variant. Finally, we compare these findings with the national context and other similarly sized cities, highlighting substantial heterogeneities in the spread and impact of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre S Sunahara
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Arthur A B Pessa
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Matjaž Perc
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Koroška cesta 160, 2000, Maribor, Slovenia.
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
- Alma Mater Europaea, Slovenska ulica 17, 2000, Maribor, Slovenia.
- Department of Physics, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Complexity Science Hub Vienna, Josefstädterstraße 39, 1080, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Haroldo V Ribeiro
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil.
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Suligowski R, Ciupa T. Five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and green-blue spaces in urban and rural areas in Poland. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114662. [PMID: 36374652 PMCID: PMC9617687 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Several waves of COVID-19 caused by different SARS-CoV-2 variants have been recorded worldwide. During this period, many publications were released describing the influence of various factors, such as environmental, social and economic factors, on the spread of COVID-19. This paper presents the results of a detailed spatiotemporal analysis of the course of COVID-19 cases and deaths in five waves in Poland in relation to green‒blue spaces. The results, based on 380 counties, reveal that the negative correlation between the indicator of green‒blue space per inhabitant and the average daily number of COVID-19 cases and deaths was clearly visible during all waves. These relationships were described by a power equation (coefficient of determination ranging from 0.83 to 0.88) with a high level of significance. The second important discovery was the fact that the rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths were significantly higher in urban counties (low values of the green-blue space indicator in m2/people) than in rural areas. The developed models can be used in decision-making by local government authorities to organize anti-COVID-19 prevention measures, including local lockdowns, especially in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Suligowski
- Institute of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, Poland.
| | - Tadeusz Ciupa
- Institute of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, Poland.
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