Prevalence of human respiratory syncytial virus circulating in Iran

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of childhood respiratory illness, posing a significant public health burden.
• Currently, no specific treatment for RSV exists, but promising new therapeutics, including vaccines and cell-entry inhibitors, are under development.
• Effective deployment of novel RSV therapeutics requires a thorough understanding of the virus's molecular epidemiology and ongoing surveillance data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of RSV prevalence and genotype distribution in Iran.
• To analyze RSV epidemiological patterns, including age, sex, and seasonality.
• To identify co-circulating RSV genotypes in Iran between 2007 and 2013.

Main Methods:

• A meta-analysis was conducted, synthesizing data from 21 published studies on RSV in Iran.
• Respiratory specimens from 4140 individuals were analyzed for RSV infection.
• Phylogenetic analysis was used to determine RSV genotype distribution.

Main Results:

• Overall, 18.7% (775/4140) of respiratory specimens tested positive for RSV.
• RSV infections predominantly affected children under 2 years of age, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.5:1.
• Infections showed significant seasonal peaks from November to March, and genotypes GA1, GA2, GA5, and BA were found to co-circulate.

Conclusions:

• This review underscores the need for standardized molecular surveillance programs for RSV in Iran.
• Understanding the molecular epidemiology of RSV is essential for characterizing its clinical and pathological features.
• Enhanced knowledge of RSV genotypes will aid in the development and implementation of effective novel therapeutics and public health strategies.