Complete-Genome Analysis of Echovirus-30 Isolated from an Encephalitis Case in India Revealed Distinct Mutations

Echovirus 30 (E-30), a member of the Enterovirus B species, is frequently linked to neurological illnesses such as aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, and hand, foot, and mouth disease. In this study, we present the complete-genome analysis of an Echovirus 30 strain isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and stool samples of a pediatric encephalitis case in Kerala, India, during 2023. A comparative genomic investigation was carried out using a dataset of 111 human E-30 isolates, encompassing 116,991 mutation records. This analysis revealed six distinct non-synonymous amino acid substitutions uniquely present in the isolate PQ472410.1, which may be associated with pathogenicity and/or neurotropic behavior. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first complete-genome sequence report of E-30 from an encephalitis case in India. These findings contribute valuable information to the understanding of E-30's molecular epidemiology and evolution and offer vital data for enhancing surveillance and response strategies against enteroviral infections.