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Molecular characterization of echovirus 30-associated outbreak of aseptic meningitis in Guangdong in 2012

Hong Xiao, Dawei Guan, Ruiyu Chen

  • 1Key Laboratory for Emergency Pathogen Detection, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 511430, Guangdong, China. kecw2011@sina.com.

Virology Journal
|August 24, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Aseptic meningitis outbreaks in China were caused by a distinct lineage of Echovirus 30 (E30). This study identified E30 variants responsible for the 2012 Guangdong Province outbreak, aiding in prevention and management strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Epidemiology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Aseptic meningitis outbreaks necessitate identification of causative agents for effective prevention and management.
  • An aseptic meningitis outbreak occurred in Guangdong Province, China, from May to June 2012.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from 121 hospitalized children were analyzed to determine the etiologic agent.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the primary etiologic agent responsible for an aseptic meningitis outbreak in Guangdong Province, China.
  • To characterize the molecular features of the identified viral strains.
  • To understand the genetic diversity and lineage of the causative agent.

Main Methods:

  • Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect enterovirus RNA in CSF specimens.
  • Enterovirus isolates underwent amplification and sequencing of the VP1 gene region.
  • Phylogenetic analysis and pairwise sequence comparison of VP1 genes were performed using MegAlign.

Main Results:

  • Enterovirus RNA was detected in 62.0% of the CSF specimens.
  • Echovirus 30 (E30) was the predominant serotype, accounting for 80% of identified enterovirus strains.
  • Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Luoding E30 isolates formed a distinct lineage (Lineage A), separate from previously identified groups, and were derived from strains circulating in China between 2003-2010.

Conclusions:

  • The distinct E30 lineage identified in Luoding is a probable cause of the 2012 aseptic meningitis outbreak.
  • The study highlights the existence of diverse Echovirus 30 variants contributing to local meningitis outbreaks.
  • Findings provide crucial insights into the molecular epidemiology of enterovirus infections and outbreak dynamics.

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