Genetic relationship between two enteroviruses causing the acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis syndrome

The genetic relationship between two enteroviruses causing the acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) syndrome was examined by the RNA-RNA hybridization technique. Nucleotide sequence homology between the J670/71 strain of enterovirus type 70 (EV70) and the EH 24/70 strain of Singapore epidemic conjunctivitis (SEC) virus was found to be only 2% or less of the total RNA genome, while more than 90% homology was detected between the prototype (J670/71) and other isolates of EV70. The results indicate that the SEC virus, an agent of conjunctivitis epidemics in limited areas of southeast Asia and India since 1970, was distinguished serologically and genetically from EV70, which caused pandemics of AHC over the African and Eurasian continents from 1969 to 1972.