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Volume 27, Number 11—November 2021
Research Letter

Real-Time Genomic Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern, Uruguay

Author affiliations: Institut Pasteur, Montevideo, Uruguay (N. Rego, A. Costábile, M. Paz, C. Salazar, P. Perbolianachis, L. Spangenberg, I. Ferres, R. Arce, A. Fajardo, M. Brandes, B. Rivera, M. Maidana, M. Alonso, G. Iraola, T. Fernandez-Calero, G. Moratorio, P. Moreno); Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay (A. Costabile, P. Perbolianachis, R. Arce, A. Fajardo, A. Lizasoain, M.J. Benítez, V. Bortagaray, A. Moller, O. Chappos, M. Duquía, B. González, L. Griffero, M. Méndez, M.P. Techera, J. Zanetti, C. Alonso, R. Colina, G. Moratorio, P. Moreno); Sanatorio Americano, Montevideo (M. Arleo, T. Possi, N. Reyes, M.N. Bentancor, V. Noya); Instituto Oswaldo Cruz–Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (G. Bello, I. Arantes); Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo (P. Smirnich); Ministerio de Salud Pública, Montevideo (J. Medina, H. Albornoz)

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Abstract

We developed a genomic surveillance program for real-time monitoring of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs) in Uruguay. We report on a PCR method for SARS-CoV-2 VOCs, the surveillance workflow, and multiple independent introductions and community transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 P.1 VOC in Uruguay.

By late 2020, because of natural viral evolution, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genetic variants emerged, some of which show increased transmissibility and cause more severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (1). In addition, these variants show reduced neutralization by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination, which can reduce effectiveness of treatments, vaccines, or diagnostic tests (1). By July 2021, a total of 4 variants of concern (VOCs) had been identified: B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma), and B.1.617 (Delta) (2). Nonetheless, a robust surveillance workflow for early VOC identification is key to accelerating the pandemic response.

Brazil demonstrated a sharp increase in SARS-CoV-2 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths after the emergence of the P.1 VOC in Amazonas State in November 2020 (3; F. Naveca et al., unpub. data, https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-275494/v1). P.1 displays higher transmissibility than previous local SARS-CoV-2 lineages and rapidly became the predominant strain in most states of Brazil during February–March 2021 (3,4; F. Naveca et al., unpub. data, https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-275494/v1). P.1 also has spread worldwide; by July 2021, P.1 had been detected in >41 countries (5), where it might replicate the epidemic trajectory observed in Brazil. Uruguay, which shares 600 miles of dry border with Brazil, has experienced an exponential increase in COVID-19 cases since February 2021; by June 2021, Uruguay was among countries with the highest number of daily cases and deaths per million persons (6). Despite closing the Brazil–Uruguay border to tourism on March 13, 2020, evidence suggests a high viral flux between the countries (7,8). Therefore, P.1 could be introduced into Uruguay and the country needs an organized strategy to monitor VOC emergence.

In response to concerns over VOCs, the Ministry of Public Health, the Pasteur Institut of Montevideo (Uruguay), University of the Republic, and Zurgen-Sanatorio Americano formed a multidisciplinary workgroup to develop a genomic surveillance program for real-time monitoring for VOC emergence in Uruguay. The workgroup aimed to provide expertise and resources for large-scale sequencing, genomic analysis, and an affordable and decentralized inhouse PCR to detect known VOCs, including B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1. Within a few weeks, the working group developed a PCR VOC detection method and a national sample processing workflow (Appendix 1 Figure 1). In addition, we identified multiple independent introductions of P.1 and community transmission in Uruguay.

The workgroup processes >3,000 nasopharyngeal samples daily, and around 100–300 SARS-CoV-2–positive samples are sent weekly for PCR VOC analysis and sequencing. During January 11–March 26, 2021, the working group collected and processed a total of 251 SARS-CoV-2–positive RNA samples from 15/19 departments in Uruguay (Appendix 1 Table 1). Cycle thresholds for initial diagnostic PCR were 9–34.7. Among patients with positive samples, 95 were male, 95 were female, and 61 were of unknown sex; ages ranged from 1–85 years. Results from PCR VOC assay showed that 67/251 (27%) samples corresponded to putative P.1/B.1.351 (Appendix 1 Figure 2).

To validate PCR VOC classification, we sequenced all VOC–positive samples, plus 31 additional samples, by applying the ARTIC Network protocol (J.R. Tyson et al., unpub. data, https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.09.04.283077) for the MinION sequencing platform (Oxford Nanopore Technologies, https://nanoporetech.com) (Appendix 1). For the final 74 high-quality consensus sequences that were assigned to SARS-CoV-2 lineages following Pango nomenclature (9), we achieved a 100% agreement between PCR VOC and genome sequencing results. Predictably, given Uruguay’s proximity to Brazil, samples classified as P.1/B.1.351 by PCR VOC were assigned to lineage P.1 after genome sequencing. The PCR we developed is a feasible, precise, and scalable method for real-time surveillance of known VOCs and verified circulation of P.1 lineage in 15/19 departments in Uruguay (Appendix 1 Figures 2, 3).

Figure

Time-scaled maximum likelihood Bayesian phylogeographic maximum clade credibility tree of 59 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 lineage P.1 whole-genome sequences from Uruguay and 691 reference sequences from South America. The tree was rooted with the EPI_ISL_833137 sequence from GISAID (https://www.gisaid.org), collected December 4, 2020. Branches are colored according to the most probable location state of their descendant nodes as indicated at the legend. Sequences from Uruguay are shown with dots at the end of the branch. Red shading indicates clades from Uruguay and their distribution along the P.1 tree demonstrates >12 independent introductions and locally transmitted clusters of 3–24 sequences. The tree suggests Brazil has been the source of P.1 dissemination to Uruguay and other countries in South America.

Figure. Time-scaled maximum likelihood Bayesian phylogeographic maximum clade credibility tree of 59 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 lineage P.1 whole-genome sequences from Uruguay and 691 reference sequences from South America....

To estimate geographic sources and the number of independent P.1 introductions into Uruguay, we combined P.1 sequences from Uruguay and 691 P.1 sequences from South America available from EpiCoV in GISAID (https://www.epicov.org/epi3; Appendix 1 Tables 2, 3; Appendix 2). The maximum-likelihood phylogeographic analysis identified >12 independent P.1 introductions into Uruguay from Brazil and >6 local transmission clusters of 3–24 sequences (Figure; Appendix 1 Figure 4). We used Bayesian analysis to estimate the median time of most recent common ancestor of P.1 clades in Uruguay to be mid-February to early March 2021 (Appendix 1 Table 4, Figure 5), which coincides with increasing mobility and the beginning of the exponential surge in COVID-19 cases in the country (Appendix 1 Figure 6).

The rapid emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 lineage P.1 in South America justifies the need for increased screening for this highly transmissible virus. We elaborated a comprehensive genomic surveillance program and provide a clear example of how multidisciplinary teams are key mechanisms for helping public health authorities manage the COVID-19 crisis. Our findings revealed that the P.1 VOC was introduced into Uruguay multiple times over a period of increasing mobility in binational cities along the Brazil–Uruguay border and in Uruguay between mid-February and early March 2021. The introduction of the highly transmissible P.1 VOC coupled with the increasing human mobility probably contributed to the rapid local spread of this variant and the worsening COVID-19 epidemic in Uruguay during January–July 2021.

Ms. Rego is a research biologist and trained in bioinformatics at Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Uruguay. Her research interests include evolutionary biology, transcriptomics, host-pathogen interactions, and the epidemiology and phylogeny of coronaviruses.

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Acknowledgment

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References

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Cite This Article

DOI: 10.3201/eid2711.211198

Original Publication Date: August 26, 2021

1These authors contributed equally to this article.

Table of Contents – Volume 27, Number 11—November 2021

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Tamara Fernández-Calero, Gonzalo Moratorio, and Pilar Moreno, Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Mataojo 2055, Montevideo, Uruguay

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Page created: July 27, 2021
Page updated: October 19, 2021
Page reviewed: October 19, 2021
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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