Research Publication

Deploying Metagenomics to Characterize Microbial Pathogens During Outbreak of Acute Febrile Illness Among Children in Tanzania

Authors: S.R. Mziray, G. Githinji, Z.R. de Laurent, P.M. Mbelele, K.S. Mohammed, B.D. Wadugu, B.S. Grundy, S.K. Heysell, S.G. Mpagama, J.O. Chilongola

This cross-sectional study in Tanzania (Korogwe District, 2018–2019) used metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to characterize microbes and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in children with acute febrile illness (AFI). Blood samples from 25 children (mean age 11.6 years) were analyzed. Five potential microbial causes of AFI were identified: Escherichia coli (n=19), Paraclostridium bifermentans (n=2), Pegivirus C (n=2), Shigella flexneri (n=1), and Pseudomonas fluorescens (n=1). E. coli was the most prevalent and harbored most of the 12 detected AMR genes (including mdtC, acrF, mdtF, emrB). mNGS proved valuable for pathogen and AMR profiling in outbreak settings.

Published at Aug. 26, 2025, 5:50 a.m.