According to research institutes in Odisha, analysis of samples has showed that five clades of Covid-19 genome are prevalent in the State. These are Clades 19A, 19B, 20A, 20B and 20C.
Clade 19B is found to be much more prevalent in analysed samples (17%) compared to other genomes reported so far from India. The study showed evolution of 19A and 19B are in parallel. A majority of the 19A and 19B Clades were present in cases that migrated from Gujarat, suggesting it to be one of the major initial points of disease transmission during months of March and April.
The phylogenetic analysis has showed that Clades 20A and 20B evolved quite rapidly among Indians and are a major source of disease transmission. The 20C strain is rarely detected and appeared to be less adapted or somehow contracted at early stages of infection. The analysis also revealed higher proportion symptomatic patients with Clades 20A, 20B and 20C. The Clade 20C was observed in Odisha and not present in any other isolates included in 1,000 genome analysis.
“From these results, it is obvious that Europe and Southeast Asia are two major routes of disease transmission in Odisha,” said Dr Sanghamitra Pati, Director of Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC).
The Institute of Life Sciences in collaboration with the RMRC analysed 225 viral genomes of Covid-19 patients who migrated from 13 States. The samples for sequencing were collected during March and July.
The sequencing, data analysis and interpretation were carried out by the team led by Dr Sunil Raghav of ILS and Dr Jyotirmayee Turuk of RMRC.
“This is a major development in understanding the disease dynamics through genomics studies,” said Dr Ajay Parida, Director of ILS Bhubaneswar. Findings from this study would pave way for new avenues of research on Covid-19, he said.
He also informed that further sequencing of virus genome is being carried out at the ILS using recent samples. The study is undertaken with active support of the Odisha Government.