Molecular Genotyping-Based Etiological Characteristics of Enterovirus Infection in Irkutsk Oblast

Resumo

A virological study of 642 samples including biological material from enterovirus infection (EVI) patients and wastewater from the sewage treatment plants of Irkutsk has been performed in cultured RD cells. Eighty-six strains were isolated in 2011 and 2014 and subsequently identified by a neutralization test (NT) with type-specific sera. A molecular genetic approach was used to confirm the composition of the circulating enterovirus (EV) group and identify virus strains. Nucleotide sequences of the VP1 gene fragment were determined and analyzed for 43 EV strains. EVs were divided into two groups: viruses endemic for the region (ECHO6, ECHO11, and Coxsackie B4) and imported from China (Coxsackie A4, enterovirus type 71 (EV71), and Coxsackie B5). Genetic variants of EV not encountered previously in Irkutsk oblast (Coxsackie A4 and EV71) have been identified. The dominant role of ECHO6, Coxsackie B4, and Coxsackie B5 as causative agents of EVI in Irkutsk oblast in 2011 and 2014 has been established.