TY - JOUR
T1 - Repeated introductions and widespread transmission of human metapneumovirus in Côte d’Ivoire
AU - Kadjo, Hervé A.
AU - Khan, Sairah M.
AU - Tamim, Sana
AU - Ar Gouilh, Meriadeg
AU - Adagba, Marius
AU - Adjogoua, Edgard
AU - Coulibaly, Daouda
AU - Vabret, Astrid
AU - Cherry, Joshua L.
AU - Nelson, Martha I.
AU - Trovão, Nídia S.
N1 - Open access funding provided by the National Institutes of Health. Funding for this study was provided by the Ministry of Health of Cote D’Ivoire and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The funding sources had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the view of the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government. This study was supported by WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the framework of Strengthening Global Health Security and Implementing the International Health Regulations. Thus, all samples taken as part of sentinel surveillance for influenza are sent to the National Influenza Center for analysis. This work was supported in part by the intramural research program of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. We are grateful to the personnel of the Influenza and Other Respiratory Virus Sentinel Surveillance in Cote d’Ivoire. We thank CDC's influenza division and the cooperative agreement with the Ministry of Health for influenza surveillance in Cote d’Ivoire. We thank Dr. Thelma Williams (Regional Program Officer, West Africa Global Influenza Branch—Influenza Division) and Dr. Talla from the Regional Epidemiology and Laboratory Advisor-West Africa, Global Influenza Branch, Influenza Division at CDC.
PY - 2025/12
Y1 - 2025/12
N2 - In Cote d’Ivoire, the incidence rate of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) rose from 165 cases per 1000 children in 2014 to more than 200 cases per 1000 children in 2015. The genetic diversity, transmission dynamics, and epidemiology of human metapneumovirus (hMPV), a causative agent of ARIs, in Cote d’Ivoire are unknown. This information is key in comprehending the transmission patterns and the role of global strains in establishing local epidemics in the country. Demographic information and biological samples were collected from 3,899 children under five-years-old, from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015 through Côte d’Ivoire’s Influenza surveillance network. Phylodynamic modeling was performed on sequences of the surface and attachment glycoprotein genes (F and G, respectively). A total of 6.23% (n = 243/3899) of the samples were positive for hMPV. We observed continuous transmission of hMPV in Côte d’Ivoire throughout the year with peaks in the two dry periods from February to March and July to September. Phylodynamic modeling revealed the circulation of the two large groups of genotypes A and B as well as lineages A, B, B1, and B2. Viral introductions into Côte d’Ivoire were estimated to have occurred 2011–2015 for the F gene genotypes and 2007–2014 for G gene genotypes. Through phylogeographic modeling, we estimated at least 14 viral introductions into Côte d’Ivoire during this period frequently from regions with available sequence data (e.g., Asia). Molecular surveillance and characterization of the evolutionary mechanisms and the spread of hMPV in Côte d’Ivoire allows for differentiating the burden caused by this virus and other co-circulating respiratory viruses like RSV and influenza. Our findings may inform potential vaccine designs for hMPV similar to the recent success for RSV. Therefore, larger-scale and continuous genomic and epidemiological surveillance of hMPV globally and in Côte d’Ivoire is essential for identifying viral introductions and implementing control strategies.
AB - In Cote d’Ivoire, the incidence rate of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) rose from 165 cases per 1000 children in 2014 to more than 200 cases per 1000 children in 2015. The genetic diversity, transmission dynamics, and epidemiology of human metapneumovirus (hMPV), a causative agent of ARIs, in Cote d’Ivoire are unknown. This information is key in comprehending the transmission patterns and the role of global strains in establishing local epidemics in the country. Demographic information and biological samples were collected from 3,899 children under five-years-old, from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015 through Côte d’Ivoire’s Influenza surveillance network. Phylodynamic modeling was performed on sequences of the surface and attachment glycoprotein genes (F and G, respectively). A total of 6.23% (n = 243/3899) of the samples were positive for hMPV. We observed continuous transmission of hMPV in Côte d’Ivoire throughout the year with peaks in the two dry periods from February to March and July to September. Phylodynamic modeling revealed the circulation of the two large groups of genotypes A and B as well as lineages A, B, B1, and B2. Viral introductions into Côte d’Ivoire were estimated to have occurred 2011–2015 for the F gene genotypes and 2007–2014 for G gene genotypes. Through phylogeographic modeling, we estimated at least 14 viral introductions into Côte d’Ivoire during this period frequently from regions with available sequence data (e.g., Asia). Molecular surveillance and characterization of the evolutionary mechanisms and the spread of hMPV in Côte d’Ivoire allows for differentiating the burden caused by this virus and other co-circulating respiratory viruses like RSV and influenza. Our findings may inform potential vaccine designs for hMPV similar to the recent success for RSV. Therefore, larger-scale and continuous genomic and epidemiological surveillance of hMPV globally and in Côte d’Ivoire is essential for identifying viral introductions and implementing control strategies.
KW - Acute respiratory infections
KW - Disease severity
KW - Evolution
KW - Human metapneumovirus
KW - Phylodynamics
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105014946535
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105014946535#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.1186/s12879-025-11512-2
DO - 10.1186/s12879-025-11512-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 40898134
AN - SCOPUS:105014946535
SN - 1471-2334
VL - 25
JO - BMC Infectious Diseases
JF - BMC Infectious Diseases
IS - 1
M1 - 1092
ER -