Publications by authors named "A M Gichuki"
Article Synopsis
- Human rhinovirus (HRV) is the leading cause of the common cold and can cause severe respiratory issues, especially in vulnerable individuals; this study aimed to analyze HRV in a rural Kenyan primary school setting.
- Over a year, 1859 nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from students and teachers with respiratory symptoms, resulting in 307 HRV-positive cases, with a higher prevalence in younger students than older ones.
- HRV-A was the most prevalent species, with substantial genetic diversity observed, including 47 different genotypes, and no single genotype was constantly present across all terms of the study.
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View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) group A variant with the 72-nucleotide duplication in the G gene, genotype ON1, was first detected in Kilifi in 2012 and has almost completely replaced circulating genotype GA2 strains. This replacement suggests some fitness advantage of ON1 over the GA2 viruses in Kilifi, and might be accompanied by important genomic substitutions in ON1 viruses. Close observation of such a new virus genotype introduction over time provides an opportunity to better understand the transmission and evolutionary dynamics of the pathogen.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Endemic respiratory viruses significantly impact global health, especially in developing countries, making understanding their spread and persistence crucial for prevention strategies.
- Surveillance data collected in Kilifi County, Kenya, from 2016 revealed that 42.2% of participants with acute respiratory infections tested positive for at least one virus, with rhinovirus being the most prevalent.
- Young children under five years old had a higher infection rate compared to older individuals, and certain viruses like RSV and adenovirus were linked to more severe cases in pediatric inpatients.