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Updated: Jun 26, 2025
An Improved and High Throughput Respiratory Syncytial Virus RSV Micro-neutralization Assay
Published on: January 26, 2019
Risk factors and circulation pattern of respiratory syncytial virus in children under 2 years in Maputo, Mozambique
Mirela Pale1, Almiro Tivane1, Tinne Gils2,3
1Department of Technologic Platforms, National Institute of Health, 1120 Maputo, Mozambique.
Insights
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is common in Mozambican infants with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), particularly in neonates. However, RSV infection was not linked to life-threatening conditions in this study.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Limited data exists on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) risk factors in low-resource settings.
- This study investigated RSV in Mozambican children under two years old with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI).
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore risk factors for RSV infection in young children with SARI.
- To describe the seasonal patterns of RSV.
- To assess the association between RSV and life-threatening conditions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 472 children presenting at two Maputo hospitals (2017-2018).
- RSV detection and subtyping via real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).
- Logistic regression, chi-squared tests, and Spearman's correlation were used for statistical analysis, including weather data correlation.
Main Results:
- RSV was detected in 23.1% of children, and 50% of those under three months old.
- Infants under three months had a significantly higher risk of RSV (aOR 4.3).
- RSV positivity correlated with monthly average temperature and precipitation in 2017. RSV A and B co-circulated, with yearly predominance.
- No association was found between RSV status and life-threatening conditions.
Conclusions:
- RSV is prevalent among Mozambican children with SARI, with a higher incidence in neonates.
- Despite its prevalence, RSV was not associated with life-threatening outcomes in this cohort.
Background:
Evidence on risk factors for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in low-resource settings is limited. In Mozambican children <2 y of age with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), we explored risk factors for RSV, described its seasonal variation and assessed associations between RSV and a life-threatening condition.
Methods:
We retrospectively included participants presenting in 2017-2018 in two hospitals in Maputo. RSV was detected and subtyped using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal swabs. We used logistic regression and χ2 tests to assess associations and Spearman's correlation coefficient to assess the correlation between weather measurement and RSV positivity.
Results:
RSV was detected in 23.1% (n=109) of 472 included children and in 50.0% (20/40) of those <3 months old. Being <3 months (vs >1 y) was associated with RSV (adjusted odds ratio 4.3 [95% confidence interval 2.1-8.5]). RSV status was not associated with experiencing a life-threatening condition. RSV A and B co-circulated during the study period, but one type predominated in each year. In 2017, the RSV positivity rate was correlated with monthly average temperature (r=0.793, p=0.002) and precipitation (r=0.596, p=0.041).
Conclusions:
In Mozambican children with SARI, RSV was prevalent, especially in neonates. However, RSV was not associated with a life-threatening condition.
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