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SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance of migrants arriving to Europe through the Mediterranean routes

Journal of Global Health, ISSN: 2047-2986, Vol: 14, Page: 05017
2024
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  • Captures
    4
  • Social Media
    9
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      9
      • Facebook
        9

Article Description

Background The implementation genomic-based surveillance on emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants in low-income countries, which have inadequate molecular and sequencing capabilities and limited vaccine storage, represents a challenge for public health. To date, there is little evidence on molecular investigations of SARS-CoV-2 variants in areas where they might emerge. We report the findings of an experimental SARS-CoV-2 molecular surveillance programme for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers arriving to Europe via Italy through the Mediterranean Sea. Methods We descriptively analysed data on migrants collected at entry points in Sicily from February 2021 to May 2022. These entry points are integrated with a network of laboratories fully equipped for molecular analyses, which performed next-generation sequencing and used Nextclade and the Pangolin coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tools for clade/lineage assignment. Results We obtained 472 full-length SARS-CoV-2 sequences and identified 12 unique clades belonging to 31 different lineages. The delta variant accounted for 43.6% of all genomes, followed by clades 21D (Eta) and 20A (25.4% and 11.4%, respectively). Notably, some of the identified lineages (A.23.1, A.27, and A.29) predicted their introduction into the migration area. The mutation analysis allowed us to identify 617 different amino acid substitutions, 156 amino acid deletions, 7 stop codons, and 6 amino acid insertions. Lastly, we highlighted the geographical distribution patterns of some mutational profiles occurring in the migrants’ countries of origin. Conclusions Genome-based molecular surveillance dedicated to migrant populations from low-resource areas may be useful for forecasting new epidemiological scenarios related to SARS-CoV-2 variants or other emerging pathogens, as well as for informing the updating of vaccination strategies.

Bibliographic Details

Fabio Tramuto; Carmelo Massimo Maida; Francesco Vitale; Walter Mazzucco; Daniela Di Naro; Giulia Randazzo; Valeria Guzzetta; Claudia Marotta; Andrea Silenzi; Ulrico Angeloni; Gianni Rezza; Paola Stefanelli; Silvio Brusaferro; Achille Cernigliaro; Teresa Barone; Santino Severoni; Davide Alba; Emanuele Amodio; Alessandra Casuccio; Claudio Costantino; San To Fruscione; Palmira Immordino; Vincenzo Restivo; Alessandra Savatteri; Nadia D’Agostino; Daniele La Milia; Laura Pecoraro; Claudio Pulvirenti; Domenico Stabile; Carlo Cesari; Salvatore Zichichi; Alessandra Lo Presti; Giorgio Graziano; Salvatore Scondotto; Stefano Reale; Silvia Scibetta; Fabrizio Vitale; Chiara Barraco; Giuseppa Mistretta; Giulia Palmeri; Antonina Patrizia Rizzo; Antonino Sparaco; Annalisa Agnone; Francesco Cascio; Daniela Laura Di Quarto; Carmelo Migliorisi; Stefania D’Amato; Valentina Cucchiara; Dario Genovese; Giuseppe Friscia; Giorgia Iacolino; Vittorio Spoto; Mario Zappia

International Society of Global Health

Medicine

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