Epidemiology, clinical characteristics and genetic diversity of Nipah virus strains from Bangladesh: 2016 to 2023.

BACKGROUND

Nipah virus (NiV) causes deadly outbreaks in Bangladesh, with fatality rate of 71%. Two sublineages, NiV-BD 1 and NiV-BD 2, have been identified. This study aimed to characterize their epidemiological and clinical diversity.

METHODS

This study analyzed 21 new (2016-2023) and 17 previously (2012-2015) reported NiV genome sequences and compared sublineages using descriptive and bivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Median age of sequenced cases was 17 years (IQR: 9-30); with 66% male. Raw date palm sap consumption was main transmission pathway (92%). NiV-BD 2 showed broader geographic distribution, including southern region. The sublineages did not differ significantly in age, sex, or transmission modes. Both sublineages presented with fever, altered mental status, and unconsciousness. Respiratory distress was more frequent in NiV-BD 2 (23/29 cases), while hospitalization was longer for NiV-BD 1 (median: 3 days; IQR: 1-23). Overall mortality was 84%, with no significant difference between sublineages. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that NiV-BD 1 and NiV-BD 2 formed distinct clusters with 98.72%-99.25% nucleotide and 99.98%-99.99% amino acid identity. The structural nucleoprotein (N) and matrix (M) proteins remained conserved across sublineages.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights genetic, spatio-temporal and clinical variation between sublineages, emphasizing continuous genomic surveillance to inform future vaccine and therapeutic strategies.