Since it emerged in Colombia in January 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 Mu variant has spread to 34 countries. The epidemiology of this variant has not yet been fully described. Here we report on the emergence and spread of the Mu variant in Antioquia State, Colombia.
This cross-sectional study was approved by the Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas Institutional Review Board. Participants provided written informed consent. The study followed the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) reporting guideline.
From July 15, 2020, to August 31, 2021, nasopharyngeal swabs or bronchoalveolar wash samples were obtained from patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection who presented to health institutions in Antioquia State, Colombia. Deidentified demographic and clinical data were collected via self-report, including patient age, sex, clinical outcomes, and risk factors.
SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and the whole genome was sequenced for patient samples with a cycle threshold value of 27 or less.1 Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using Pangolin software.2 Genome sequences obtained in this study were deposited in the GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data) database.3 Characteristics of persons with Mu infection were compared with those of individuals with other circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. We used a nonparametric χ2 test to compare differences between groups; P < .05 was considered significant. Statistical analysis was performed with R software, version 4.1.2 (R Foundation for Statistical Computing).
From July 2020 through August 2021, 1032 viral samples were obtained for whole-genome sequencing. Demographic and risk factor data were available for 863 participants (83.4%). Of these individuals, 432 (50.1%) were female and the mean (SD) age was 42.4 (20.9) years (Table); 97 (11.2%) reported being vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Mu variant was first detected in Antioquia in March 2021. By July 2021, this variant accounted for 52 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences (85.2%) (Figure, A), coincident with the largest wave of COVID-19 cases reported in Antioquia since the start of the pandemic (Figure, B). The prevalence of the Mu variant decreased to 34 sequences (55.7%) in August 2021, coincident with the introduction of the Delta variant. Except for clinical outcomes, there were no differences in age, sex, or risk factors among persons with Mu infection compared with the other variants circulating at the time (Table).
To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe the molecular epidemiology of the Mu variant after it emerged in Colombia in 2021. The large number of cases during the study period is coincident with the introduction of the Mu variant; coupled with low vaccination coverage (45.5% by August, and high levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibody in the population4), this observation suggests that reinfection is likely common with the Mu variant. Previous studies have suggested that the Mu variant is resistant to convalescent and vaccine sera.5,6 The ability of the Mu variant to evade the immune response in vaccinated and previously infected individuals requires further study.
Our study has some limitations. Because of the insufficient number of vaccinated persons in our study, we were unable to determine whether the Mu variant is more successful at evading resistance from vaccination compared with other variants. The observational nature of this study limits the generalizability of our findings, and the demographic, risk factor, and vaccination data were self-reported. Few persons were vaccinated at the time, and there were several vaccines in use in Colombia; thus, we were not able to assess the effectiveness of vaccination on the Mu variant.
Our data reflect the variant circulation in other populated regions of Colombia.6 With the introduction of the Delta and Omicron variants into the country, additional studies are needed to better understand the effect of the Mu variant.
Accepted for Publication: January 30, 2022.
Published: March 30, 2022. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.4754
Open Access: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC-BY License. © 2022 Hernandez-Ortiz J et al. JAMA Network Open.
Corresponding Author: Juan Hernandez-Ortiz, PhD, Laboratorio Genómico One Health, Colombia-Wisconsin One Health Consortium, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Cll 75#79-51, Bloque M15, Medellín 050034, Colombia (coord_cwohc@unal.edu.co).
Author Contributions: Dr Hernandez-Ortiz had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.
Concept and design: All authors.
Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: All authors.
Drafting of the manuscript: All authors.
Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Hernandez-Ortiz, Cardona, Averhoff, Maya, Cloherty, Osorio.
Statistical analysis: Hernandez-Ortiz, Cardona.
Obtained funding: Hernandez-Ortiz, Cloherty, Osorio.
Administrative, technical, or material support: Hernandez-Ortiz, Cardona, Ciuoderis, Maya, Cloherty.
Supervision: Hernandez-Ortiz, Cardona, Cloherty, Osorio.
Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Averhoff reported receiving a salary from and owning stock in Abbott. Dr Cloherty reported being employed by and a shareholder of Abbott. No other disclosures were reported.
Funding/Support: This work was supported by the Antioquian Corporation/Mining Coalition (Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana, Grupo Nutresa, Fundación Grupo Bancolombia, Sumicol Grupo Corbeta, Zijin/Continental Gold Ashanti, Gramalote Colombia, and Gran Colombia Gold), Grupo Interconexión Eléctrica S.A., Fundación Sofia Perez de Soto, Fundación Fraternidad Medellín, Gobernación de Antioquia, and Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition.
Role of the Funder/Sponsor: The funders had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
Additional Information: Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data accession numbers of the SARS-CoV-2 genomes that were sequenced and analyzed for this study are available upon request.
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