Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

Detection of Infectious Virus from Field-collected Mosquitoes by Vero Cell Culture Assay
07:23

Detection of Infectious Virus from Field-collected Mosquitoes by Vero Cell Culture Assay

Published on: June 9, 2011

17.9K

Aseptic meningitis outbreak caused by echovirus 30 in two regions in Bulgaria, May-August 2012

Z Mladenova1, G Buttinelli2, A Dikova1

  • 1Department of Virology, National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia,Bulgaria.

Epidemiology and Infection
|February 1, 2014
PubMed

Insights

A 2012 aseptic meningitis outbreak in Bulgaria was caused by echovirus 30 (E30). Molecular analysis confirmed high genetic similarity among isolates, primarily affecting children aged 5-14 years.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Aseptic meningitis outbreaks pose a significant public health concern.
  • Echovirus 30 (E30) is a known etiological agent of aseptic meningitis.
  • Previous E30 outbreaks have been documented globally.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the emergence of an aseptic meningitis outbreak in Bulgaria in 2012.
  • To identify the etiological agent responsible for the outbreak.
  • To characterize the genetic features of the circulating echovirus 30 strains.

Main Methods:

  • Cell culture isolation for virus identification.
  • Serological tests for antibody detection.
  • Molecular-based techniques, including nucleotide and amino-acid sequence analysis.
  • Epidemiological data collection and analysis of affected patient demographics.

Main Results:

  • Echovirus 30 (E30) was confirmed as the causative agent in 117 out of 157 aseptic meningitis cases.
  • Molecular analysis of 12 E30 isolates showed 99-100% nucleotide and amino-acid identity.
  • The Bulgarian E30 strains exhibited close correlation with a Greek strain from a 2012 outbreak.
  • Children aged 5-14 years were the predominantly affected age group.
  • The first case was identified in Plovdiv in April 2012, suggesting a likely index case.

Conclusions:

  • Echovirus 30 (E30) was responsible for the 2012 aseptic meningitis outbreak in Bulgaria.
  • The genetic homogeneity of the E30 isolates suggests a single introduction and subsequent rapid transmission.
  • The age distribution may be linked to a lack of prior E30 epidemic circulation in Bulgaria for 11 years.
  • Person-to-person transmission facilitated the outbreak, originating from an initial case in Plovdiv.

More Related Videos

EPA Method 1615. Measurement of Enterovirus and Norovirus Occurrence in Water by Culture and RT-qPCR. II. Total Culturable Virus Assay11:09

EPA Method 1615. Measurement of Enterovirus and Norovirus Occurrence in Water by Culture and RT-qPCR. II. Total Culturable Virus Assay

Published on: September 11, 2016

10.5K
A Bacterial Oral Feeding Assay with Antibiotic-Treated Mosquitoes09:59

A Bacterial Oral Feeding Assay with Antibiotic-Treated Mosquitoes

Published on: September 12, 2020

6.2K

Related Concept Videos

Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...
199
Investigation of Disease Outbreaks01:23

Investigation of Disease Outbreaks

Multistate foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health risks and require meticulous investigation to identify sources and implement control measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a dynamic seven-step process for these investigations, integrating data from laboratories, interviews, and environmental assessments to protect public health.Outbreak Detection: The detection of multistate outbreaks typically begins with PulseNet, the CDC's national laboratory...
74
Bacterial Gastroenteritis01:18

Bacterial Gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid...
88
Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
15
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
15
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...
24