[Genetype characteristics of enterovirus type 71 in Shenzhen from 2005 to 2008]

Genetic characteristics of enterovirus type 71 in Shenzhen from 2005 to 2008 were analyzed. All samples were detected by RT-PCR using EV71-specific primers. The VP1s of EV71 strains were amplified and sequenced. A phylogenetic tree was constructed by comparison of the sequences with those of subgenotype A, B and C using DNASTAR, BioEdit and Mega 3.1 softwares. The VP1 nucleotide sequences of 17 strains of Shenzhen shared 95.3%-99.4% identities with cluster C4a, and one strain shared 93.0%-95.6% identities with cluster C4b. The homogeneity of the VP1 nucleotide sequence with subgenotype A and B was 81.8%-86.0%. Among 18 strains, the homogeneity of the VP1 nucleotide sequence was between 92.5%-100%. All EV71 strains circulating in Shenzhen were of subgenotype C4. The predominant strain of EV71 belonged to cluster C4a, also there was cluster C4b.