Impact of Early Pandemic SARS-CoV-2 Lineages Replacement with the Variant of Concern P.1 (Gamma) in Western Bahia, Brazil
Josilene R. Pinheiro,
Esther C. dos Reis,
Jéssica P. Farias,
Mayanna M. C. Fogaça,
Patrícia de S. da Silva,
Itana Vivian R. Santana,
Ana Luiza S. Rocha,
Paloma O. Vidal,
Rafael da C. Simões,
Wilson B. Luiz,
Alexander Birbrair,
Renato S. de Aguiar,
Renan P. de Souza,
Vasco A. de C. Azevedo,
Gepoliano Chaves,
Aline Belmok,
Ricardo Durães-Carvalho,
Fernando L. Melo,
Bergmann M. Ribeiro,
Jaime Henrique Amorim
Affiliations
Josilene R. Pinheiro
Center of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Western Bahia, Barreiras 47805, BA, Brazil
Esther C. dos Reis
Center of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Western Bahia, Barreiras 47805, BA, Brazil
Jéssica P. Farias
Center of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Western Bahia, Barreiras 47805, BA, Brazil
Mayanna M. C. Fogaça
Center of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Western Bahia, Barreiras 47805, BA, Brazil
Patrícia de S. da Silva
Center of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Western Bahia, Barreiras 47805, BA, Brazil
Itana Vivian R. Santana
Center of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Western Bahia, Barreiras 47805, BA, Brazil
Ana Luiza S. Rocha
Center of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Western Bahia, Barreiras 47805, BA, Brazil
Paloma O. Vidal
Center of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Western Bahia, Barreiras 47805, BA, Brazil
Rafael da C. Simões
Center of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Western Bahia, Barreiras 47805, BA, Brazil
Wilson B. Luiz
Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus 45662, BA, Brazil
Alexander Birbrair
Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Renato S. de Aguiar
Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270, MG, Brazil
Renan P. de Souza
Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270, MG, Brazil
Vasco A. de C. Azevedo
Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270, MG, Brazil
Gepoliano Chaves
Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
Aline Belmok
Laboratory of Baculoviruses, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910, DF, Brazil
Ricardo Durães-Carvalho
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, São Paulo School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04023, SP, Brazil
Fernando L. Melo
Laboratory of Baculoviruses, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910, DF, Brazil
Bergmann M. Ribeiro
Laboratory of Baculoviruses, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910, DF, Brazil
Jaime Henrique Amorim
Center of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Western Bahia, Barreiras 47805, BA, Brazil
Background: The correct understanding of the epidemiological dynamics of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2, is essential for formulating public policies of disease containment. Methods: In this study, we constructed a picture of the epidemiological dynamics of COVID-19 in a Brazilian population of almost 17000 patients in 15 months. We specifically studied the fluctuations of COVID-19 cases and deaths due to COVID-19 over time according to host gender, age, viral load, and genetic variants. Results: As the main results, we observed that the numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths due to COVID-19 fluctuated over time and that men were the most affected by deaths, as well as those of 60 or more years old. We also observed that individuals between 30- and 44-years old were the most affected by COVID-19 cases. In addition, the viral loads in the patients’ nasopharynx were higher in the early symptomatic period. We found that early pandemic SARS-CoV-2 lineages were replaced by the variant of concern (VOC) P.1 (Gamma) in the second half of the study period, which led to a significant increase in the number of deaths. Conclusions: The results presented in this study are helpful for future formulations of efficient public policies of COVID-19 containment.
