Respiratory viruses and bacteria among pilgrims during the 2013 Hajj
Authors: Nicolas Salez
Antoine Nougairede
Pierre-Edouard Fournier
Samir Benkouiten
Rémi Charrel
Philippe Gautret
Tassadit Drali
Philippe Parola
Didier Raoult
Philippe Brouqui
Ziad A Memish
Malak Al Masri
Khadidja Belhouchat
Journal: Emerging Infectious Diseases (2014)
Discipline: IMMUNOLOGY
Keywords: Hajj; respiratory pathogens; PCR; respiratory viruses; bacteria

Abstract:  Pilgrims returning from the Hajj might contribute to international spreading of respiratory pathogens. Nasal and throat swab specimens were obtained from 129 pilgrims in 2013 before they departed from France and before they left Saudi Arabia, and tested by PCR for respiratory viruses and bacteria. Overall, 21.5% and 38.8% of pre-Hajj and post-Hajj specimens, respectively, were positive for ≥1 virus (p = 0.003). One third (29.8%) of the participants acquired ≥1 virus, particularly rhinovirus (14.0%), coronavirus E229 (12.4%), and influenza A(H3N2) virus (6.2%) while in Saudi Arabia. None of the participants were positive for the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. In addition, 50.0% and 62.0% of pre-Hajj and post-Hajj specimens, respectively, were positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae (p = 0.053). One third (36.3%) of the participants had acquired S. pneumoniae during their stay. Our results confirm high acquisition rates of rhinovirus and S. pneumoniae in pilgrims and highlight the acquisition of coronavirus E229. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Several articles have been published in different high impact factor journals concerning the results of a protocol on muslims who participated in the 2013-2017 Hajj (extended to 2018 in some articles). In all these publications, the same protocol authorized by an IRB under the number 2013-A00961u201344 on July 23, 2013 has been used. But there is serious concern on the compliance of this study to the Helsinki Declaration. Authors mentioned that the study has been approved by IRB in July 23, 2013 and started in September 2013. The protocol was approved by the Aix Marseille Universitu00e9 institutional review board (July 23, 2013; reference no. 2013-A00961u201344). There is several discrepancies in these information. **Did The study start in 2012 before the ethics committee approval ?** In another journal, the Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease journal, certains of the same authors published the results of this protocol, with the same reference number. [Antibiotic use for respiratory infections among Hajj pilgrims: A cohort survey and review of the literature] For information, one of the authors is also Associate Editor in the Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease journal. In article published in Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease journal, you can note that the same protocol started in 2012 and get the ethics committee approval after (on July 23, 2013). I quote: * Pilgrims from Marseille, France participating in the Hajj from 2012 to 2017 were recruited at a specialized travel agency organizing trips to Mecca. * * The protocol was approved by the Aix-Marseille University institutional review board (**July 23rd, 2013**; reference no. 2013-A00961-44). * This is not a spelling mistake. As mentioned in the study and annexes, 169 pilgrims have been recruited in 2012 and data are provided for this year with the same protocol. As the authors mentioned themselves in the Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease journal that the protocol reference no. 2013-A00961u201344 started in 2012, the Year 2012 should be considered as the study start date for all articles related to the protocol approved under the reference #2013-A00961u201344 A study cannot be published in a scientific journal if it started before to get the proper Ethics Committee approval. Retrospective ethics committee approval is a serious breach of the Helsinski Declaration. Furthermore, I would like to note that only certified IRB (aka CPP in France) can authorize prospective interventional studies in France. Aix Marseille Universitu00e9 Ethics Committee is not a certified IRB in France. The format of the reference # is a RCB ID. This # (2013-A00961u201344) is delivered by the French Health Agency. Not by a certified IRB (CPP). As a consequence, there is a ground for serious and legitimate concerns about the study start date and the ethic committee approval. With regards of the Helsinki Declaration, Editors should consider this matter and clarify this situation asap. **List of articles related to the protocol authorized under the number 2013-A00961u201344 on July 23, 2013** 1 - [Antibiotic use for respiratory infections among Hajj pilgrims: A cohort survey and review of the literature] 2 - [Respiratory Viruses and Bacteria among Pilgrims during the 2013 Hajj] 3 - [Lack of MERS Coronavirus but Prevalence of Influenza Virus in French Pilgrims after 2013 Hajj] 4 - [The dynamics and interactions of respiratory pathogen carriage among French pilgrims during the 2018 Hajj] 5 - [Gastrointestinal symptoms and the acquisition of enteric pathogens in Hajj pilgrims: a 3-year prospective cohort study] 6 - [Acquisition of multidrug-resistant bacteria and encoding genes among French pilgrims during the 2017 and 2018 Hajj] 7 - [Comparative genomics of two Shewanella xiamenensis strains isolated from a pilgrim before and during travels to the Hajj] 8 - [High Prevalence of Mycoplasma faucium DNA in the Human Oropharynx] 9 - [Comparison of nasal swabs with throat swabs for the detection of respiratory viruses by real-time reverse transcriptase PCR in adult Hajj pilgrims] 10 - [Respiratory tract infections among French Hajj pilgrims from 2014 to 2017] ,