loading page

Molecular surveillance and epidemiology of variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2 during the fifth wave of COVID-19 in Punjab province, Pakistan
  • +14
  • Muhammad Beig,
  • Muhammad Ali,
  • Hasnain Javed,
  • Tahir Yaqub,
  • Asim Khalid Mehmood,
  • Muhammad Nawaz,
  • Sohail Raza,
  • Muhammad Ashraf,
  • Muhammad Shabbir,
  • Nadia Mukhtar,
  • Muhammad Imran Najeeb,
  • Muhammad Aziz,
  • Adnan Mehmood,
  • * Hamza,
  • Awais Masud,
  • Rida Basharat,
  • Aftab Ahmad Anjum
Muhammad Beig
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Author Profile
Muhammad Ali
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Hasnain Javed
Punjab AIDS Control Program
Author Profile
Tahir Yaqub
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Author Profile
Asim Khalid Mehmood
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Author Profile
Muhammad Nawaz
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Author Profile
Sohail Raza
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Author Profile
Muhammad Ashraf
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Author Profile
Muhammad Shabbir
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Author Profile
Nadia Mukhtar
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Author Profile
Muhammad Imran Najeeb
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Author Profile
Muhammad Aziz
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Author Profile
Adnan Mehmood
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Author Profile
* Hamza
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Author Profile
Awais Masud
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Author Profile
Rida Basharat
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Author Profile
Aftab Ahmad Anjum
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Author Profile

Abstract

The study was designed to determine the prevalence and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 variants during the fifth wave of COVID-19 in selected districts of Punjab, Pakistan. The nasal swab samples (n=708)1 of suspected patients from various districts across Punjab were collected between December 2021 to April 2022. The genome extraction was done using an auto-extractor (Uni-medica) in the BSL-3 facility. Reverse-transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed for viral detection and quantification. For the identification of SARS-CoV-2 variants, various mutations of spike protein were targeted using Multiplex PCR. The study’s results revealed the Omicron variant of concern (VOC) as the prevalent lineage of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in the selected regions of Punjab at the time of sampling. The VOC accounted for 90.01% of COVID-19 cases, followed by Delta (6.81%) and wild variant (3.80%). Prevalence of Omicron (VOC) was recorded higher in men (47.96%) as compared to women (42.05%). In addition, the highest percentage of VOC was observed in adults (47.39%) as compared to older people (32.07%) and young people (10.55%). This study highlighted the circulation of the Omicron variant during 5 th wave of COVID-19 in Punjab Province, Pakistan.