Original Research

The viral aetiology of influenza-like illnesses in Kampala and Entebbe, Uganda, 2008

Stephen Balinandi, Barnabas Bakamutumaho, John T. Kayiwa, Juliette Ongus, Joseph Oundo, Anna C. Awor, Julius J. Lutwama
African Journal of Laboratory Medicine | Vol 2, No 1 | a65 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v2i1.65 | © 2013 Stephen Balinandi, Barnabas Bakamutumaho, John T. Kayiwa, Juliette Ongus, Joseph Oundo, Anna C. Awor, Julius J. Lutwama | This work is licensed under Other
Submitted: 07 May 2012 | Published: 24 June 2013

About the author(s)

Stephen Balinandi, Field Epidemiology andLaboratory Training Program Uganda Virus Research Institute, Uganda, Kenya
Barnabas Bakamutumaho, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda, Kenya
John T. Kayiwa, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda, Kenya
Juliette Ongus, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Joseph Oundo, Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Kenya
Anna C. Awor, Uganda Virus ResearchInstitute, Uganda, Kenya
Julius J. Lutwama, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda, Kenya

Abstract

Background: As the threat of zoonoses and the emergence of pandemic-prone respiratory viruses increases, there is a need to establish baseline information on the incidence of endemic pathogens in countries worldwide.

Objectives: To investigate the presence of viruses associated with influenza-like illnesses (ILI) in Uganda.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which nasopharyngeal swab specimens were collected from patients diagnosed with ILI in Kampala and Entebbe between 14 August2008 – 15 December 2008. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay for detecting 12 respiratory viruses was used.

Results: A total of 369 patients (52.3% females) was enrolled; the median age was 6 years (range1–70). One or more respiratory viruses were detected in 172 (46.6%) cases and their prevalence were influenza A virus (19.2%), adenovirus (8.7%), human rhinovirus A (7.9%), coronavirusOC43 (4.3%), parainfluenza virus 1 (2.7%), parainfluenza virus 3 (2.7%), influenza B virus (2.2%),respiratory syncytial virus B (2.2%), human metapneumovirus (1.4%), respiratory syncytialvirus A (1.1%), parainfluenza virus 2 (0.5%) and coronavirus 229E (0.5%). There were 24 (14.0%) mixed infections.

Conclusions: This study identified some of the respiratory viruses associated with ILI in Uganda.The circulation of some of the viruses was previously unknown in the study population. These results are useful in order to guide future surveillance and case management strategies involving respiratory illnesses in Uganda.


Keywords

viral infections, respiratory illness, surveillance, Uganda

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