1. Introduction of SARS-CoV-2 C.37 (WHO VOI lambda) in the Sao Paulo State, Southeast Brazil.
- Author
-
Kashima S, Slavov SN, Giovanetti M, Rodrigues ES, Patané JSL, Viala VL, Santos EV, Evaristo M, de Lima LPO, Martins AJ, Dos Santos Barros CR, Marqueze EC, Garibaldi PMM, Ferreira NN, Moraes GR, Brassaloti RA, Cassano RLRC, Mariani PDSC, Kitajima JP, Schlesinger D, Bezerra RS, Assato PA, da Costa FAS, Poleti MD, Lesbon JCC, Mattos EC, Banho CA, Sacchetto L, Grotto RMT, Souza-Neto JA, Fonseca V, de Alcantara LCJ, Nogueira ML, Fukumasu H, Coutinho LL, Borges M, Calado RT, Elias MC, Sampaio SC, and Covas DT
- Subjects
- Brazil epidemiology, Humans, World Health Organization, COVID-19 epidemiology, SARS-CoV-2 genetics
- Abstract
The Lambda variants of interest (VOI) (C37/GR/452Q.V1/21G) was initially reported in Lima, Peru but has gained rapid dissemination through other Latin American countries. Nevertheless, the dissemination and molecular epidemiology of the Lambda VOI in Brazil is unknown apart from a single case report. In this respect, we characterized the circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 Lambda VOI (C37/GR/452Q.V1/21G) in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. From March to June 2021, we identified seven Lambda isolates in a set of approximately 8000 newly sequenced genomes of the Network for Pandemic Alert of Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants from Sao Paulo State. Interestingly, in three of the positive patients, the Lambda VOI infection was probably related to a contact transmission. These individuals were fully vaccinated to COVID-19 and presented mild symptoms. The remaining positive for Lambda VOI individuals showed different levels of COVID-19 symptoms and one of them needed hospitalization (score 5, WHO). In our study, we present a low level of Lambda VOI circulation in the Sao Paulo State. This reinforces the essential role of molecular surveillance for the effective SARS-CoV-2 pandemic response, especially in regard to circulating variants., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF