Genomic Analysis and Lineage Identification of SARS-CoV-2 Strains in Migrants Accessing Europe Through the Libyan Route

Frontiers in Public Health

Francesco Vitale¹  Fabio Tramuto¹  Carmelo Massimo Maida¹  Walter Mazzucco²  Alessandra Lo Presti³  Paola Stefanelli³  Giovanni Rezza⁴  Fabrizio Vitale⁵  Silvia Scibetta⁵  Stefano Reale⁵  Salvatore Zichichi⁶  Claudio Pulvirenti⁶  Giuseppa Purpari⁷ 

[1] Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “G. D'Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy;Regional Reference Laboratory of Western Sicily for the Emergency of COVID-19, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone”, Palermo, Italy;Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “G. D'Alessandro”, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy;Regional Reference Laboratory of Western Sicily for the Emergency of COVID-19, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone”, Palermo, Italy;Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centre, Cincinnati, OH, United States;Department of Infectious Diseases, National Health Institute, Rome, Italy;Directorate-General for Health Prevention, Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy;Molecular Biology Area, Zoo-prophilactic Experimental Institute of Sicily “A. Mirri”, Palermo, Italy;Uffici di sanità marittima, aerea e di frontiera (USMAF) – Servizi Assistenza Sanitaria Naviganti (SASN) Sicily, Ministry of Health, Directorate-General for Health Prevention, Rome, Italy;Virological Diagnostic Area, Zoo-prophilactic Experimental Institute of Sicily “A. Mirri”, Palermo, Italy;

关键词: SARS-CoV-2;    molecular surveillance;    migrant;    asylum-seeker;    Mediterranean Sea;    NGS;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpubh.2021.632645

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Many African countries, representing the origin of the majority of refugees, asylum-seekers, and other migrants, toward regions bordering on the Mediterranean area, are experiencing sustained local transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Sicily is one of the main entry gates of migrants crossing into Europe. We conducted a pilot study, based on the full-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 strains isolated from migrants coming to Sicily by crossing the Mediterranean Sea, with the aim to investigate the viral genome polymorphism and to describe their genetic variations and the phylogenetic relationships. On June 21, a nongovernmental organization vessel rescued 210 migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Libya to Sicily. Of them, 13.4% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Eighteen whole genome sequences were obtained to explore viral genetic variability. All but one of the sequences clustered with other viral African strains within the lineage A, whereas only one intermixed among B.1 lineage genomes. Our findings documented that most of the investigated migrants acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection before landing in Sicily. However, SARS-CoV-2 transmission during travel or in overcrowded Libyan immigrant camps and/or illegal transport boats could not be ruled out. SARS-CoV-2 molecular surveillance on migrants arriving in Europe through the Sicilian gate may improve the knowledge of global SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamic also in light of the emergence of new variants.

【 授权许可】

CC BY