Investigation of the causative pathogen in the 2023 conjunctivitis outbreak of Nepal using unbiased metagenomic next generation sequencing

Abstract

AbstractIn mid-2023, Nepal experienced a significant outbreak of conjunctivitis, affecting over 60% of outpatients in eye hospitals and prompting school closures. The outbreak, peaking in August, predominantly impacted children and individuals with compromised immunity. Clinical manifestations included sudden-onset redness, foreign body sensation, watery discharge, and occasional lid swelling. A majority of cases exhibited acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, with management involving ocular lubricants, personal hygiene, and topical antibiotics. This study details the genomic epidemiology and clinical characteristics of conjunctivitis cases during the outbreak. To understand the causative agents, conjunctival swabs from patients were evaluated using unbiased metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in Illumina iSeq100 at Dhulikhel Hospital Kathmandu University Hospital. This case series revealed the presence of Enterovirus C (coxsackievirus strain A24) as the major pathogen responsible for the outbreak. This case series contributes valuable insights into the genomic diversity of conjunctivitis-associated viruses, highlighting the potential of mNGS in enhancing diagnostic capabilities and guiding public health responses.