*[1],[2]Ogunbode, J. O., ²Olatunji, O. A., and 1,2,3Fowotade, A.
¹Clinical Virology Unit, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
²Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
³Biorepository Clinical Virology Laboratory, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
*Correspondence to: oluyemijoseph8@gmail.com
Abstract:
Background: Every year, influenza virus affects millions of people, causing morbidity and mortality among adults and children prompting many to seek outpatient care. Influenza is largely undetected among infected individuals in lower-middle-income settings. Influenza co-infection with other respiratory viral infections is associated with a severe clinical presentation and a worse clinical outcome. The current study aimed to detect influenza A and B viruses from respiratory samples of patients with suspected CoVID-19, in order to establish possible co-infection, and its implications.
Methodology: Archived respiratory samples from a total of 230 patients with suspected COVID-19 (73 confirmed COVID-19 and 157 without COVID-19) at the Biorepository Clinical Virology Laboratory (BCVL), College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, were included in the study. RNA extraction was carried out on the samples, and then amplified by real-time PCR (RT-PCR) for specific genes of influenza virus. Data obtained were sorted out and analyzed. Descriptive statistics such as percentages were used to summarize variables while inferential statistics such as the Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables. SPSS version 21.0 was used for statistical computation, R version 4.1.1 was used for graphical illustration.
Results: Of the 73 SARS-COV-2 positive specimens, no influenza virus gene was detected by RT-PCR. However, of the 157 SARS-COV-2 negative specimens, 2 (1.3%) were positive for influenza A virus while 3 (1.9%) for influenza B virus. Co-infection of SARS-COV-2 and influenza virus was not detected.
Conclusion: In this study, the frequency of influenza virus detection in patients with suspected COVID-19 was low for both influenza A and B viruses, but no co-infection of the virus with SARS-CoV-2 was observed. The study emphasizes the need for continuous surveillance for respiratory viral pathogens among individuals presenting with respiratory symptoms in the study setting.
Keywords: Influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Real-Time PCR, Archived samples
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