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Molecular characterization of echovirus 30-associated outbreak of aseptic meningitis in Korea in 2008

Young Jin Choi1, Kwi Sung Park, Kyoung Ah Baek

  • 1Department of Clinical Pathology, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan 330-721, Korea.

Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
|April 8, 2010
PubMed

Insights

A 2008 Korean aseptic meningitis outbreak was primarily caused by echovirus type 30 (E30). Molecular analysis revealed these E30 strains formed a distinct lineage, suggesting a new cause for the epidemic.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Epidemiology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Aseptic meningitis outbreaks pose significant public health challenges.
  • Identifying the causative agents is crucial for effective prevention and management strategies.
  • Enteroviruses, particularly echoviruses, are common causes of viral meningitis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the etiologic agents responsible for an aseptic meningitis outbreak in Korea in 2008.
  • To perform molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the echovirus type 30 (E30) isolates from the outbreak.
  • To determine if the Korean E30 strains represent a distinct lineage.

Main Methods:

  • Virus isolation and identification from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and stool specimens of 140 hospitalized children.
  • Molecular characterization using VP1 gene sequencing of 18 Korean E30 isolates.
  • Phylogenetic analysis comparing Korean E30 strains with global reference strains using the MegAlign tool and GenBank database.

Main Results:

  • Echovirus type 30 (E30) was identified as the primary agent, accounting for 61.7% of human enterovirus (HEV) isolates.
  • Echovirus 6 accounted for 21.7% of HEV isolates.
  • Phylogenetic analysis of the VP1 gene sequences revealed that the Korean E30 isolates formed a distinct lineage, separate from previously identified groups.

Conclusions:

  • Echovirus type 30 was the predominant cause of the 2008 aseptic meningitis outbreak in Korea.
  • The Korean E30 strains exhibited unique molecular characteristics, suggesting the emergence of a distinct lineage.
  • These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular epidemiology of E30 and its role in meningitis outbreaks.

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