Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40225290›Full record

ArticleIJID regions2025

Genomic surveillance and evolutionary dynamics of respiratory syncytial virus circulating in Tunisia post-COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions.

Greta Romano, Zoubeir Bouslah, Salma Abid, Francesca Di Giallonardo, Guglielmo Ferrari, Antonio Piralla, Awatef El Moussi, Yasmine Koumi, Latifa Charaa, Ichrak Landolsi and 12 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in IJID regions, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

22 authors.

Greta RomanoFondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Microbiology and Virology Department, Pavia, Italy.
Zoubeir BouslahUniversity of Tunis ElManar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.
Salma AbidUniversity of Tunis ElManar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.
Francesca Di GiallonardoThe Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia.
Guglielmo FerrariFondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Microbiology and Virology Department, Pavia, Italy.
Antonio PirallaFondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Microbiology and Virology Department, Pavia, Italy.
Awatef El MoussiCharles Nicolle Hospital, Laboratory of Microbiology, National Influenza Centre, National Reference Lab of Respiratory Viruses, Tunis, Tunisia.
Yasmine KoumiBéchir Hamza Children's Hospital, Pediatric intensive care unit, Tunis, Tunisia.
Latifa CharaaCharles Nicolle Hospital, Laboratory of Microbiology, National Influenza Centre, National Reference Lab of Respiratory Viruses, Tunis, Tunisia.
Ichrak LandolsiCharles Nicolle Hospital, Laboratory of Microbiology, National Influenza Centre, National Reference Lab of Respiratory Viruses, Tunis, Tunisia.
Hakim El GhordMinistry of Health, Primary Health Care Directorate, Tunisia.
Valentina CuriniIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy.
Maurilia MarcacciIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy.
Hanen SmaouiUniversity Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.
Ahlem GzaraMinistry of Health, Primary Health Care Directorate, Tunisia.
Chekib ZediniMinistry of Health, Primary Health Care Directorate, Tunisia.
Alessandro RipaniIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy.
Wafa AchourUniversity Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.
Khaled MnifBéchir Hamza Children's Hospital, Pediatric intensive care unit, Tunis, Tunisia.
Cesare CammàIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy.
Alessio LorussoIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy.
Ilhem Boutiba Ben BoubakerUniversity of Tunis ElManar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is the leading cause of severe respiratory infections in children worldwide. Severe cases often require intensive care. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is classified into two main antigenic groups: RSV-A and RSV-B. Recent molecular advancements have significantly enhanced our ability to control and understand RSV infections. This study investigated the epidemiologic and genetic characteristics of the RSV in Tunisia, focusing on its evolutionary dynamics. Methods: Between October and December 2021, 92 samples were collected from Tunisian patients hospitalized for mild-to-severe acute respiratory infections. Laboratory analyses, including real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and whole genome sequencing (WGS), were performed to identify and characterize the RSV strains. Phylogenetic analyses were performed to compare the Tunisian sequences with the global RSV sequences from 2012 to 2022. Results: Of the 92 patients (mean age 1 year and 6 months), 96.9% of the samples tested positive for RSV-A, and 22 samples exhibited co-infections with other respiratory viruses. WGS was successfully performed on the 74 samples. Phylogenetic analysis identified six distinct clades of RSV-A circulating in Tunisia, indicating multiple parallel introductions of the virus into the country. Specific Tunisian clades showed genetic similarities to RSV strains from Argentina, Belgium, and the Philippines. Conclusions: This study underscores the genetic diversity of RSV in Tunisia, with multiple introductions after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in 2021. WGS revealed significant genetic heterogeneity within RSV-A, which could affect the effectiveness of vaccines and therapeutic strategies. Continued surveillance, particularly, in resource-limited regions, is crucial to inform and guide future interventions.

Indexed as

Genetic diversityHuman respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV)SurveillanceTunisiaWhole genome sequencing (WGS)

Identifiers

PMID40225290
PMCPMC11987636

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.