Nassuna Charity A, Yiga Fahim, Nakaseegu Joweria, Amwine Esther, Nakamoga Bridget, Ayuro Noel, Owor Nicholas, Odongo David, Kiconco Jocelyn, Nsibambi Thomas, Wasike Samuel, Andagalu Ben, Harrington Chelsea, Crawley Adam W, Ssempiira Julius, Ransom Ray, Boore Amy L, Bakamutumaho Barnabas, Kayiwa John T, Lutwama Julius J
Uganda Virus Research Institute, National Influenza Center, Department of Arbovirology, Entebbe, Uganda.
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Global Health Security, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Viruses. 2025 Aug 18;17(8):1131. doi: 10.3390/v17081131.
Limited surveillance and laboratory testing for non-influenza viruses remains a challenge in Uganda. The World Health Organization (WHO) designated National Influenza Center (NIC) tested samples from patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARIs) during August 2022-February 2023. We leveraged the influenza sentinel surveillance system to detect other respiratory viruses (ORVs). Samples were tested using the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) influenza and SARS-CoV-2 multiplex and the FTD Respiratory Pathogens 21 assays using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). A total of 687 (ILI = 471 (68.6%) and SARI = 216 (31.4%) samples were tested. The median age was 2 years (IQR: 1-25) for ILI and 6 years (IQR: 1-18) for SARI case definitions (-value = 0.045). One or more respiratory pathogens were detected in 38.7% ( = 266) of all samples; 33 (12.4%) were selected for metagenomics sequencing and 8 (3%) for SARS-CoV-2 targeted sequencing. Respiratory pathogens were detected by sequencing in 23 of 33 (69.7%) samples. Our study provides insight into the usefulness of this surveillance system in conducting virological testing for other viruses and provides tools and evidence to monitor patterns and characteristics of viruses causing ILI/SARI, which will guide public health decisions and interventions in Uganda.
在乌干达，对非流感病毒进行有限的监测和实验室检测仍是一项挑战。世界卫生组织（WHO）指定的国家流感中心（NIC）在2022年8月至2023年2月期间对流感样疾病（ILI）和严重急性呼吸道感染（SARI）患者的样本进行了检测。我们利用流感哨点监测系统来检测其他呼吸道病毒（ORV）。样本使用美国疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）的流感和SARS-CoV-2多重检测方法以及FTD呼吸道病原体21检测方法，通过实时逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-qPCR）进行检测。总共检测了687份样本（ILI = 471份（68.6%），SARI = 216份（31.4%））。ILI病例定义的中位年龄为2岁（IQR：1 - 25），SARI病例定义的中位年龄为6岁（IQR：1 - 18）（P值 = 0.045）。在所有样本的38.7%（n = 266）中检测到一种或多种呼吸道病原体；33份（12.4%）样本被选用于宏基因组测序，8份（3%）样本被选用于SARS-CoV-2靶向测序。在33份样本中的23份（69.7%）通过测序检测到呼吸道病原体。我们的研究深入了解了该监测系统在对其他病毒进行病毒学检测方面的实用性，并提供了工具和证据来监测导致ILI/SARI的病毒的模式和特征，这将指导乌干达的公共卫生决策和干预措施。
