Nucleic acid sequence relationships between enterovirus serotypes

Forty-eight different enterovirus serotypes were analysed by a nucleic-acid hybridization test using probes derived from the 3' end of coxsackievirus A21 (CA21) and B3 (CB3), poliovirus 3 (P3) and enterovirus 70 (E70). More than 90% of the serotypes could be detected with this collection of reagents. The CB3 probe reacted with all the coxsackie B viruses, with all three poliovirus serotypes, and with almost all of the 30 ECHO virus types tested. In addition some of the coxsackie A viruses and the BrDr 73 strain of enterovirus 71 gave a positive signal with this probe. The P3 probe detected all the poliovirus strains and also some coxsackievirus A isolates but no coxsackie B or ECHO viruses. A similar hybridization pattern as with the P3 probe was obtained when the CA 21 probe was used. The E70 probe appeared to be strain-specific. The results indicate that nucleic-acid hybridization is a useful method for rapid detection and subgrouping of enteroviruses during virus isolation, and that the test could be further developed for typing of the strains.