Impact of Early Pandemic SARS-CoV-2 Lineages Replacement with the Variant of Concern P.1 (Gamma) in Western Bahia, Brazil

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Pinheiro, Josilene R. ; dos Reis, Esther C. ; Farias, Jessica P. ; Fogaca, Mayanna M. C. ; da Silva, Patricia de S. ; Santana, Itana Vivian R. ; Rocha, Ana Luiza S. ; Vidal, Paloma O. ; Simoes, Rafael da C. ; Luiz, Wilson B. ; Birbrair, Alexander ; de Aguiar, Renato S. ; de Souza, Renan P. ; Azevedo, Vasco A. de C. ; Chaves, Gepoliano ; Belmok, Aline ; Duraes-Carvalho, Ricardo ; Melo, Fernando L. ; Ribeiro, Bergmann M. ; Amorim, Jaime Henrique

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Viruses-Basel; v. 14, n. 10, p. 12-pg., 2022-10-01.

Abstract

Background: The correct understanding of the epidemiological dynamics of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2, is essential for formulating public policies of disease containment. Methods: In this study, we constructed a picture of the epidemiological dynamics of COVID-19 in a Brazilian population of almost 17000 patients in 15 months. We specifically studied the fluctuations of COVID-19 cases and deaths due to COVID-19 over time according to host gender, age, viral load, and genetic variants. Results: As the main results, we observed that the numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths due to COVID-19 fluctuated over time and that men were the most affected by deaths, as well as those of 60 or more years old. We also observed that individuals between 30- and 44-years old were the most affected by COVID-19 cases. In addition, the viral loads in the patients' nasopharynx were higher in the early symptomatic period. We found that early pandemic SARS-CoV-2 lineages were replaced by the variant of concern (VOC) P.1 (Gamma) in the second half of the study period, which led to a significant increase in the number of deaths. Conclusions: The results presented in this study are helpful for future formulations of efficient public policies of COVID-19 containment. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/01255-9 - Bats: epidemiological surveillance, high-resolution phylodynamics, search and design of peptides of biotechnological interest in emergent and reemerging viruses
• Grantee: Ricardo Durães de Carvalho
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/03684-4 - Bats: epidemiological surveillance, high-resolution phylodynamics, search and design of peptides of biotechnological interest in emergent and reemerging viruses
• Grantee: Ricardo Durães de Carvalho
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers