Enterovirus infections with special reference to enterovirus 71

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Enteroviruses, part of the Picornaviridae family, encompass 67 serotypes, including polioviruses, Coxsackieviruses, and echoviruses.
• While often asymptomatic, enteroviruses can cause severe diseases, exemplified by the 1998 enterovirus 71 (EV71) epidemic in Taiwan.
• Historically, poliovirus diagnosis and control advanced significantly with the development of cell culture propagation techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the characteristics, diagnosis, and epidemiology of enteroviruses.
• To highlight the potential severity of enterovirus infections and the need for effective treatments.
• To discuss current diagnostic methods and emerging antiviral therapies.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on enterovirus classification, morphology, and host range.
• Description of diagnostic techniques, including virus isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), indirect immunofluorescent tests, and neutralization tests.
• Discussion of epidemiological data, including the EV71 epidemic in Taiwan.

Main Results:

• Enteroviruses are small, non-enveloped viruses with an RNA genome and icosahedral symmetry.
• Virus isolation remains the primary diagnostic method, with PCR useful for central nervous system infections.
• While poliovirus is nearly eradicated, other enteroviruses pose ongoing public health challenges due to a lack of specific treatments.

Conclusions:

• Enteroviruses represent a diverse group of viruses with varied clinical presentations, ranging from asymptomatic to fatal.
• Effective diagnostic tools are available, but specific antiviral therapies for most enteroviruses are still lacking.
• The development of novel antivirals, such as pleconaril, offers potential future strategies for managing enterovirus infections.