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Global distribution of respiratory syncytial virus A and B infections: a systematic review

Karla Cantú-Flores¹, Gerardo Rivera-Alfaro¹, Juan Carlos Muñoz-Escalante¹

¹Microbiology Department, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

Pathogens and Global Health

|February 14, 2022

Insights

Global respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) surveillance reveals two main circulation patterns: RSV A predominance or alternating RSV A and B predominance. Understanding these viral dynamics is crucial for vaccine development.

Area of Science:

Virology
Epidemiology
Public Health

Background:

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of severe respiratory illness in young children globally.
Increasing recognition of the need for comprehensive global RSV epidemiological data.
Previous studies have noted RSV A is more frequent than RSV B, but global temporal distribution remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the global temporal distribution and circulation patterns of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) groups A and B.
To analyze the predominant RSV genotypes and their evolutionary trends.
To provide insights for vaccine development and understanding viral dynamics.

Main Methods:

Systematic review of published studies on RSV A and B epidemiology.
Analysis of RSV G gene ectodomain sequences from GenBank.
Inclusion of 76,668 positive samples from 83 countries and sequence data from 5,340 RSV A and 2,518 RSV B isolates.

Main Results:

Two distinct global circulation patterns were observed: continuous RSV A predominance and alternating RSV A and B predominance.
Regional variations in predominant RSV groups were noted, with infrequent continental coincidence.
The most common RSV A genotype was NA1 (76.30%), and the most common RSV B genotype was BA (70.65%).
RSV genotype diversity decreased after 2000.

Conclusions:

RSV circulation exhibits distinct global and regional patterns, crucial for epidemiological understanding.
The classification of RSV groups and genotypes is vital for effective vaccine development.
This study provides a comprehensive overview of RSV circulation patterns up to 2020.

Read full analysis

Abstract:

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the main cause of severe respiratory infections in young children. The need for global epidemiologic data regarding RSV has been increasingly recognized. RSV A infections are reported more frequently than RSV B. Nonetheless, the temporal distribution of infections caused by both RSV groups has not been investigated globally. A systematic review was carried out regarding published studies on RSV A and B epidemiology, as well as RSV G gene ectodomain sequence data available at GenBank. A total of 76,668 [45,990 (60%) RSV A and 30,678 (40%) RSV B] positive samples from 83 countries were identified and included in the analysis. Genotype assignment was obtained in 5,340 RSV A and 2,518 RSV B sequences. Two patterns of RSV circulation were observed: continuous seasons with RSV A predominance and alternate predominance of RSV A and B. These patterns were observed in all regions, but the predominant RSV group seldom coincided in all continents during a given year or season. The most frequently identified RSV A genotype was NA1 (including ON1 viruses) (76.30%), and the most frequently identified RSV B genotype was BA (70.65%). Multiple genotypes circulated simultaneously throughout the evolutionary history of RSV, but genotype diversity decreased after the year 2000. The classification of RSV group and genotype is important for the development of vaccines, as well as to understand viral dynamics. This study displays the global and continental RSV circulation patterns from the first report of human RSV infection until the end of 2020.

Keywords:

Respiratory syncytial virus epidemiology genotype molecular epidemiology respiratory viruses

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