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An aseptic meningitis outbreak caused by echovirus 6 in Anhui province, China

Naiying Mao1, Liping Zhao, Zhen Zhu

  • 1WHO WPRO Regional Reference Measles Lab and State Key Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Genetic Engineering, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Journal of Medical Virology
|January 21, 2010
PubMed

Insights

An outbreak of aseptic meningitis in China was caused by human echovirus 6 (E6). This study identified E6 as the sole agent, highlighting its genetic similarity among patients and its relation to a Russian strain.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Aseptic meningitis (AM) outbreaks pose a significant public health concern, particularly in pediatric populations.
  • Identifying the specific etiologic agent is crucial for effective outbreak management and prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the causative agent of an aseptic meningitis outbreak in Jinzhai County, Anhui province, China.
  • To characterize the genetic features of the identified virus and understand its phylogenetic relationship.

Main Methods:

  • Collection and culturing of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and fecal specimens from hospitalized children.
  • Isolation and identification of the viral agent using human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cell lines.
  • Confirmation of the viral agent through neutralization assays and VP1 gene sequencing.

Main Results:

  • Human echovirus 6 (E6) was identified as the sole etiologic agent in 30 isolates from 27 CSF and 3 fecal specimens.
  • High genetic homology (99.7-100.0%) of the VP1 gene among the Anhui isolates suggests a single transmission source.
  • Phylogenetic analysis placed the Anhui E6 isolates within cluster C4, closely related to a 2005 Russian strain.

Conclusions:

  • Human echovirus 6 (E6) was confirmed as the cause of the 2005 aseptic meningitis outbreak in Anhui, China.
  • The findings indicate a single transmission event of E6 responsible for the outbreak.
  • This is the first report of an E6-associated AM outbreak in China, underscoring the need for continued surveillance.

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