@article {1056, title = {Deep sequencing analysis of clinical samples from patients with acute infectious conjunctivitis during the COVID-19 delta surge in Madurai, India.}, journal = {J Clin Virol}, volume = {157}, year = {2022}, month = {2022 Oct 05}, pages = {105318}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Seasonal outbreaks of infectious conjunctivitis remain a public health issue. Determination of outbreak etiologies in the context of a worldwide pandemic may provide useful information to guide public health strategies. The aim of this study was to identify pathogens associated with outpatient infectious conjunctivitis during the COVID-19 Delta surge.

METHODS: This prospective study was conducted from April 2021 to September 2021. All outpatients presenting to the Aravind Eye Center (Madurai, India) with signs and symptoms consistent with acute infectious conjunctivitis were eligible. Three swabs were obtained from each participant: one from each conjunctiva and one from the anterior nares. Samples were processed for metagenomic RNA deep sequencing (RNA-seq).

RESULTS: Samples from 106 study participants were sequenced. The most common presenting symptoms were tearing (86\%) and itching (71\%). Preauricular lymphadenopathy was present in 38\% of participants. 20\% of participants had close contacts with similar symptoms. Systemic symptoms such as coughing, runny nose, vomiting or diarrhea were uncommonly reported. 60\% of all participants used some medicated eye drops upon enrollment. 75\% of study participants demonstrated infection with human adenovirus D (HAdV-D). 11\% of conjunctivitis was associated with SARS-CoV-2. 15\% had no definitive pathogen detected. 8\% of all participants had codetection of more than one pathogen on RNA-seq.

CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 Delta surge in India, HAdV-D was the most common pathogen associated with infectious conjunctivitis. SARS-CoV-2 was the second most common associated pathogen. Seasonal surveillance may be necessary for the determination of emerging and reemerging pathogens responsible for infectious conjunctivitis.

}, issn = {1873-5967}, doi = {10.1016/j.jcv.2022.105318}, author = {Lalitha, Prajna and Prajna, N Venkatesh and Gunasekaran, Rameshkumar and Teja, Gonugunta Vishnu and Sharma, Sankalp S and Hinterwirth, Armin and Ruder, Kevin and Zhong, Lina and Chen, Cindi and Deiner, Michael and Huang, ChunHong and Pinsky, Benjamin A and Lietman, Thomas M and Doan, Thuy and Seitzman, Gerami D} }