Genomic analysis of the early COVID-19 pandemic in Haiti reveals Caribbean-specific variant dynamics.

Pathogen sequencing during the COVID-19 pandemic has generated more whole genome sequencing data than for any other epidemic, allowing epidemiologists to monitor the transmission and evolution of SARS-CoV-2. However, large parts of the world are heavily underrepresented in sequencing efforts, includ...

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Main Authors: Alexandra Mushegian, Allie Kreitman, Martha I Nelson, Matthew Chung, Christopher Mederos, Allison Roder, Stephanie Banakis, Anne Marie Desormeaux, Nadia Lapierre Jean Charles, Yoran Grant-Greene, Samson Marseille, Katilla Pierre, Donald Lafontant, Jacques Boncy, Ito Journel, Josiane Buteau, Stanley Juin, Elodie Ghedin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2024-01-01
Series:PLOS Global Public Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003536
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author Alexandra Mushegian
Allie Kreitman
Martha I Nelson
Matthew Chung
Christopher Mederos
Allison Roder
Stephanie Banakis
Anne Marie Desormeaux
Nadia Lapierre Jean Charles
Yoran Grant-Greene
Samson Marseille
Katilla Pierre
Donald Lafontant
Jacques Boncy
Ito Journel
Josiane Buteau
Stanley Juin
Elodie Ghedin
author_facet Alexandra Mushegian
Allie Kreitman
Martha I Nelson
Matthew Chung
Christopher Mederos
Allison Roder
Stephanie Banakis
Anne Marie Desormeaux
Nadia Lapierre Jean Charles
Yoran Grant-Greene
Samson Marseille
Katilla Pierre
Donald Lafontant
Jacques Boncy
Ito Journel
Josiane Buteau
Stanley Juin
Elodie Ghedin
author_sort Alexandra Mushegian
collection DOAJ
description Pathogen sequencing during the COVID-19 pandemic has generated more whole genome sequencing data than for any other epidemic, allowing epidemiologists to monitor the transmission and evolution of SARS-CoV-2. However, large parts of the world are heavily underrepresented in sequencing efforts, including the Caribbean islands. We performed genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 from upper respiratory tract samples collected in Haiti during the spring of 2020. We used phylogenetic analysis to assess the pandemic dynamics in the Caribbean region and observed that the epidemic in Haiti was seeded by multiple introductions, primarily from the United States. We identified the emergence of a SARS-CoV-2 lineage (B.1.478) from Haiti that spread into North America, as well as evidence of the undocumented spread of SARS-CoV-2 within the Caribbean. We demonstrate that the genomic analysis of a relatively modest number of samples from a severely under-sampled region can provide new insight on a previously unobserved spread of a specific lineage, demonstrating the importance of geographically widespread genomic epidemiology.
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publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
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spelling doaj-art-acf333efacc34ce0bafffe89a1929a202025-08-20T01:54:19ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLOS Global Public Health2767-33752024-01-01411e000353610.1371/journal.pgph.0003536Genomic analysis of the early COVID-19 pandemic in Haiti reveals Caribbean-specific variant dynamics.Alexandra MushegianAllie KreitmanMartha I NelsonMatthew ChungChristopher MederosAllison RoderStephanie BanakisAnne Marie DesormeauxNadia Lapierre Jean CharlesYoran Grant-GreeneSamson MarseilleKatilla PierreDonald LafontantJacques BoncyIto JournelJosiane ButeauStanley JuinElodie GhedinPathogen sequencing during the COVID-19 pandemic has generated more whole genome sequencing data than for any other epidemic, allowing epidemiologists to monitor the transmission and evolution of SARS-CoV-2. However, large parts of the world are heavily underrepresented in sequencing efforts, including the Caribbean islands. We performed genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 from upper respiratory tract samples collected in Haiti during the spring of 2020. We used phylogenetic analysis to assess the pandemic dynamics in the Caribbean region and observed that the epidemic in Haiti was seeded by multiple introductions, primarily from the United States. We identified the emergence of a SARS-CoV-2 lineage (B.1.478) from Haiti that spread into North America, as well as evidence of the undocumented spread of SARS-CoV-2 within the Caribbean. We demonstrate that the genomic analysis of a relatively modest number of samples from a severely under-sampled region can provide new insight on a previously unobserved spread of a specific lineage, demonstrating the importance of geographically widespread genomic epidemiology.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003536
spellingShingle Alexandra Mushegian
Allie Kreitman
Martha I Nelson
Matthew Chung
Christopher Mederos
Allison Roder
Stephanie Banakis
Anne Marie Desormeaux
Nadia Lapierre Jean Charles
Yoran Grant-Greene
Samson Marseille
Katilla Pierre
Donald Lafontant
Jacques Boncy
Ito Journel
Josiane Buteau
Stanley Juin
Elodie Ghedin
Genomic analysis of the early COVID-19 pandemic in Haiti reveals Caribbean-specific variant dynamics.
PLOS Global Public Health
title Genomic analysis of the early COVID-19 pandemic in Haiti reveals Caribbean-specific variant dynamics.
title_full Genomic analysis of the early COVID-19 pandemic in Haiti reveals Caribbean-specific variant dynamics.
title_fullStr Genomic analysis of the early COVID-19 pandemic in Haiti reveals Caribbean-specific variant dynamics.
title_full_unstemmed Genomic analysis of the early COVID-19 pandemic in Haiti reveals Caribbean-specific variant dynamics.
title_short Genomic analysis of the early COVID-19 pandemic in Haiti reveals Caribbean-specific variant dynamics.
title_sort genomic analysis of the early covid 19 pandemic in haiti reveals caribbean specific variant dynamics
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003536
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