引起一起暴发性急性胃肠炎疫情的埃可病毒18型VP1基因特征分析

埃可病毒18型(Echovirus 18,E18)属于B组肠道病毒(Enterovirus B,EV-B),是引起病毒性脑膜炎的重要病原体。对2019年4月广东省深圳市龙岗区一起急性胃肠炎疫情进行病原学鉴定及病原基因特征分析。此次疫情共有26名患者,均以发热、呕吐、腹泻、腹痛为主要症状。从其中18名病例采集了18份肛拭子标本,采用实时荧光RT-PCR、病毒分离(RD细胞)和半巢式聚合酶链反应法以鉴定病原,扩增病毒全长VP1区,测序并进行系统进化分析。结果显示,18份标本中11份肠道病毒核酸阳性,其中8份为E18。病毒分离得到2株病毒,从肛拭子标本直接扩增得到的7条E18全长VP1核苷酸序列,核苷酸相似性为100%,与GenBank中E18参考株的核苷酸及氨基酸同源性分别为79.2%~96.4%和93.3%~99.3%;进化树显示,深圳龙岗E18分离株(GDSZ1902)归属由中国分离株组成的C2a进化分支,在其VP1蛋白中的底部环处发现一处特异的氨基酸变异(D200N)。从流行病学和病原学结果分析,E18是引起本次深圳市龙岗区急性胃肠炎疫情的主要病原,属于中国E18主要流行株的进化分支,这是我国首次发现E18引起急性胃肠炎疫情的报道。     

2013-2019年全国手足口病ECHO-9的分子流行病学研究

埃可病毒9型(Echovirus 9,ECHO-9)是引起无菌性脑膜炎(Aseptic meningitis,AM)和手足口病(Hand,foot,and mouth disease,HFMD)暴发流行的重要病原体,但目前全球关于ECHO-9分子流行病学研究仍比较匮乏,ECHO-9基于VP1全长的基因分型结果尚未明确。本研究依托国家HFMD监测网络,2013-2019年在中国大陆共分离到15株ECHO-9毒株,对其进行VP1区全长序列测定和分析,并与GenBank中下载的全部112条ECHO-9VP1区全长序列共同构建系统发育进化树。结果显示,全球ECHO-9分为A-G七个基因型,其中C、D和F基因型可被进一步划分为C1-C2,D1-D4和F1-F2基因亚型。各洲之间优势基因型别有显著差异,亚洲和欧洲分别以D和C基因型为绝对优势基因型。中国大陆ECHO-9优势基因型别为D基因型,但其优势基因亚型随时间推移有明显转变。2000-2005年,中国大陆ECHO-9全部为D1基因亚型,2006年开始出现D1、D2和D3基因亚型的共同流行,2010年后D1和D2基因亚型消失,D3成为中国大陆绝对优势基因型别。本研究测定的15株ECHO-9分离自2013-2019年,其中14株属于D3基因亚型,1株江西ECHO-9为C2基因亚型,推测其可能来源于境外。本研究建立了全球ECHO-9基于VP1全长的基因分型方法,揭示了ECHO-9在全国及全球范围的分子流行特征。     

Population Dynamics and Genetic Diversity of C4 Strains of Human Enterovirus 71 in Mainland China, 1998–2010

Background

Since 1997, several countries within the Asian Pacific region have been affected by one or more massive outbreaks of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD). Virus typing experiments revealed that these outbreaks were caused by strains of human enterovirus 71 (EV71) belonging to several different, recently emerged subgenogroups. In mainland China, a different situation was observed. The first outbreak, localized in Shangdong Province, was reported in 2007, and was followed by a wide-spread outbreak in mainland China in 2008. Since then, numbers of reported HFMD cases have been persistently high.

Methodology/Principal Findings

To gain insight in the epidemiological behavior of EV71 in China, we studied genetic diversity and EV71 population dynamics to address whether the increase in number of reported EV71 infections reflects a real increase in viral spread or is just the result of increased awareness and surveillance. We used systematically collected VP1 gene sequences of 257 EV71 strains collected in Guangdong province from 2008 to 2010 as part of HFMD surveillance activities, and supplemented them with 305 GenBank EV71 reference stains collected in China from 1998 to 2010. All isolates from Guangdong Province belonged to subgenogroup C4. Viral population dynamics indicated that the increased reporting of HFMD in China since 2007 reflects a real increase in viral spread and continued replacement of viral lineages through time. Amino acid sequence comparisons revealed substitution of amino acid in residues 22, 145 and 289 through time regularly with the VP1 gene of EV71 strains isolated in mainland China from 1998 to 2010.

Conclusions

EV71 strains isolated in mainland China mainly belonged to subgenogroup C4. There was exponential growth of the EV71 virus population in 2007 and 2008. There was amino acid substitution through time regularly with the VP1 gene which possibly increased viral spread and/or ability of the virus to circulate persistently among the Chinese population.     

2014年陕西省柯萨奇病毒A10型相关手足口病的流行特征和其VP1区基因特征研究

了解陕西省手足口病(Hand,foot and mouth disease,HFMD)的致病病原体柯萨奇病毒A10型(CV-A10)的流行特征及VP1区基因特征。对2014年收集的HFMD病例标本,通过荧光定量PCR检测确定肠道病毒型别,对CV-A10引起的HFMD流行特征进行描述性分析。使用RD细胞进行病毒分离,RT-PCR扩增CV-A10的VP1区基因片段并进行序列测定,使用Meg Align软件进行核苷酸及氨基酸的同源性分析,并使用MEGA5.0软件构建系统进化树。2014年CV-A10是陕西HFMD病原谱中的第三大病原,占其他肠道病毒的57.71%,13例重症HFMD病例的致病病原体鉴定为CV-A10,占重症病例的9.03%。CV-A10感染HFMD病例以≤3岁年龄组儿童为主(83.07%),男女性别比为1.15∶1。发病时间主要集中在4～7月。实验室分离出101株CV-A10,覆盖全省10市(区)。完成测序的18株CV-A10核苷酸和氨基酸同源性分别为94.0%～100.0%和97.3%～100.0%,与A型原型株的核苷酸和氨基酸同源性分别为76.2%～77.5%和91.9%～93.0%,与近年来河北、湖南和河南地区流行株具有较高的同源性。系统进化显示陕西CV-A10分离株属于C基因型。CV-A10是2014年陕西HFMD的优势病原,能引起重症HFMD,本次分离到的CV-A10毒株均属于C基因型。     

Prevalence of Multiple Enteroviruses Associated with Hand,Foot, and Mouth Disease in Shijiazhuang City,Hebei Province,China: Outbreaks of Coxsackieviruses A10 and B3

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) has been one of the most common infectious diseases in Shijiazhuang City, as is the situation in China overall. In the National HFMD surveillance system, the pathogen detection was focused on EV-A71 and CVA16, and therefore, information on the other EVs is very limited. In order to identify the circulating EV serotypes in the HFMD outbreaks in Shijiazhuang City during 2010–2012, 4045 patients presented with HFMD were recruited in the study, and clinical samples were investigated. Typing of EV serotypes was performed using the molecular typing methods, and phylogenetic analyses based on entire VP1 sequences of human enterovirus 71 (EV-A71), coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16), CVA10 and CVB3 was performed. The results revealed that EV-A71 and CVA16 were the 2 most important pathogens but the circulating trends of the 2 viruses showed a shift, the spread of EV-A71 became increasingly weak, whereas the spread of CVA16 became increasingly stronger. CVA10 and CVB3 were the third and fourth most prevalent pathogens, respectively. Co-infection of two viruses at the same time was not found in these samples. Based on entire VP1 region sequences, the phylogenetic analysis revealed that C4a subgenotype EV-A71, B1a and B1b subgenotype CVA16 continued to evolve. The CVA10 strains were assigned to 4 genotypes (A–D), whereas the CVB3 strains were assigned to 5 genotypes (A–E), with clear geographical and temporal-specific distributions. The Shijiazhuang CVA10 sequences belonged to 4 epidemic lineages within genotype C, whereas the Shijiazhuang CVB3 sequences belonged to 2 epidemic lineages within genotype E, which may have the same origins as the strains reported in other part of China. CVA10 and CVB3, 2 pathogens that were previously infrequently detected, were identified as pathogens causing the HFMD outbreaks. This study underscores the need for detailed laboratory-based surveillances of HFMD in mainland China.     

天津市致病毒性脑炎柯萨奇病毒B组5型全基因组序列分析

肠道病毒是我国病毒性脑炎(Viral encephalitis,VE)的主要病原体。本文研究对4株引起VE的天津柯萨奇病毒B组5型(Coxsackievirus B5,CV-B5)分离株进行Illumina MiniSeq高通量测序,并对其全基因组特征、进化及重组特点进行分析。结果提示,4株CV-B5天津分离株的全基因组核苷酸和氨基酸序列同源性分别为84.5%~100.0%和98.1%~100.0%,与国内流行株的全基因组核苷酸序列同源性为83.2%~96.5%,氨基酸序列同源性为96.4%~99.4%。基于全基因组的系统进化分析将CV-B5流行株分为A-D四个基因型,其中天津与国内流行株均属于C基因型。C基因型进一步分为3个进化分支,而天津分离株处在两个不同的分支上。基于基因组各区段序列的系统进化与SimPlot重组分析结果显示,天津分离株15-39N、15-41N与埃可病毒30型(Echovirus 30,E-30)原型株在P3区3B、3C、3D区域均检测到重组信号。本研究有助于了解CV-B5的全基因组特点和重组规律,为相关疾病的防控提供依据。     

Molecular Epidemiology of Coxsackievirus A16: Intratype and Prevalent Intertype Recombination Identified

Coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) is responsible for nearly 50% of all the confirmed hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) cases in mainland China, sometimes it could also cause severe complications, and even death. To clarify the genetic characteristics and the epidemic patterns of CVA16 in mainland China, comprehensive bioinfomatics analyses were performed by using 35 CVA16 whole genome sequences from 1998 to 2011, 593 complete CVA16 VP1 sequences from 1981 to 2011, and prototype strains of human enterovirus species A (EV-A). Analysis on complete VP1 sequences revealed that subgenotypes B1a and B1b were prevalent strains and have been co-circulating in many Asian countries since 2000, especially in mainland China for at least 13 years. While the prevalence of subgenotype B1c (totally 20 strains) was much limited, only found in Malaysia from 2005 to 2007 and in France in 2010. Genotype B2 only caused epidemic in Japan and Malaysia from 1981 to 2000. Both subgenotypes B1a and B1b were potential recombinant viruses containing sequences from other EV-A donors in the 5’-untranslated region and P2, P3 non-structural protein encoding regions.     

云南省4株埃可病毒11型VP1基因特征分析

埃可病毒11型(Echovirus 11,ECHO11)属于肠道病毒B组,是最常见的人类肠道病毒(Human enterovirus,HEV)之一,常引起儿童无菌性脑膜炎、脑炎和急性迟缓性麻痹等疾病。为了对云南省手足口病(Hand,foot,and mouth disease,HFMD)监测中分离到的4株ECHO11毒株的VP1基因进行序列分析,并为云南地区ECHO11的进化及流行趋势等研究提供基础数据,本研究对收集到的HFMD病例标本进行病毒分离培养和鉴定,对鉴定为ECHO11的毒株VP1基因测定其完整序列,与GenBank上其他参考株的VP1区序列构建遗传进化树进行基因分析。结果显示,4株ECHO11型毒株分属A1和D5两个基因亚型,分别与各自基因亚型参考株的同源性为最高。D5基因亚型ECHO11分离株在进化树上聚集为3簇,提示存在多个传播链,其D5-1簇的VP1区氨基酸在多个位点上与同基因亚型的其他簇参考株存在特异突变。本研究揭示,云南地区存在两种不同基因亚型的ECHO11流行情况,特别是D5亚型的出现,提示我国周边流行的ECHO11基因型已进入中国大陆,应密切关注其流行变异情况,为今后制定由ECHO11引起的HFMD的公共卫生策略提供依据。     

我国四株埃可病毒6型全基因组序列及重组特征分析

埃可病毒6型(Echovirus 6,ECHO6)作为肠道病毒B组(Enterovirus B,EV-B)的一员,在临床上常导致无菌性脑膜炎(Aseptic meningitis,AM)、急性弛缓性麻痹(Acute flaccid paralysis,AFP)、手足口病(Hand,foot,and mouth disease,HFMD)等多种疾病。本文挑选四株中国大陆地区不同年份、地区及疾病严重程度的代表毒株进行全基因组测定分析,与GenBank上ECHO6全长代表株及EV-B组原型株比对分析,了解其进化特征,并筛选BLAST结果的EV-B组流行株,探究我国流行的ECHO6与其他血清型的基因重组特征。结果提示,本研究四株ECHO6毒株在非结构蛋白区与EV-B其他血清型均发生重组,其中死亡病例标本重组模式更为复杂,可能与疾病严重程度有关。通过本研究分析,可进一步揭示ECHO6的遗传特征,为肠道病毒血清型研究提供基础数据,对了解其进化变异及临床致病力影响具有重要意义。     

Characterization of full-length enterovirus 71 strains from severe and mild disease patients in northeastern China

Human enterovirus 71 (EV71)-associated hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) has been a leading cause of childhood infection in China since 2008. Epidemic and molecular characteristics of HFMD have been examined in many areas of China, including the central and southern regions. However, clinical and genetic characterization of EV71 in the northeastern region of China is scarce. In this study, a series of analyses were performed on seven full-length EV71 sequences from HFMD patients who had either severe or mild disease. We have determined that these seven circulating EV71 viruses from Changchun, China are actually complex recombinant viruses involving multiple type A human enterovirus (HEV). Classified as EV71 subtype C4 (EV71 C4), these Changchun EV71 viruses contain genetic recombination events between the CA4, CA5, EV71B4 and EV71C1 strains. Most of the structural protein region (P1) of these viruses resembled that of the prototype EV71 C1 strains. The non-structural protein domains (P2 and P3) showed a high degree of similarity with CA4, CA5 and EV71 B4 in different regions. The 5'UTR had unclassified recombination,while partial 3D region of these viruses showed a high degree of similarity to CA16. Phylogenetic analysis of full-length or partial sequences of isolates from severe or mild disease patients in Changchun always formed a single cluster in various phylogenetic analyses of different genomic regions, suggesting that all seven strains originated from one single common ancestor. There was no correlation between viral genomic sequence and virulence. Thus, we found that circulating recombinant forms of EV71 are prevalent among HFMD patients in Northeastern China. The existence of a unique cluster of EV71 related viruses in Northeast China has important implications for vaccine development that would address the increasing prevalence of HFMD.     

Elucidation of Echovirus 30's Origin and Transmission during the 2012 Aseptic Meningitis Outbreak in Guangdong,China, through Continuing Environmental Surveillance

An aseptic meningitis outbreak occurred in Luoding City of Guangdong, China, in 2012, and echovirus type 30 (ECHO30) was identified as the major causative pathogen. Environmental surveillance indicated that ECHO30 was detected in the sewage of a neighboring city, Guangzhou, from 2010 to 2012 and also in Luoding City sewage samples (6/43, 14%) collected after the outbreak. In order to track the potential origin of the outbreak viral strains, we sequenced the VP1 genes of 29 viral strains from clinical patients and environmental samples. Sequence alignments and phylogenetic analyses based on VP1 gene sequences revealed that virus strains isolated from the sewage of Guangzhou and Luoding cities matched well the clinical strains from the outbreak, with high nucleotide sequence similarity (98.5% to 100%) and similar cluster distribution. Five ECHO30 clinical strains were clustered with the Guangdong environmental strains but diverged from strains from other regions, suggesting that this subcluster of viruses most likely originated from the circulating virus in Guangdong rather than having been more recently imported from other regions. These findings underscore the importance of long-term, continuous environmental surveillance and genetic analysis to monitor circulating enteroviruses.     

The persistent circulation of enterovirus 71 in People's Republic of China: causing emerging nationwide epidemics since 2008

Emerging epidemics of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) associated with enterovirus 71 (EV71) has become a serious concern in mainland China. It caused 126 and 353 fatalities in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The epidemiologic and pathogenic data of the outbreak collected from national laboratory network and notifiable disease surveillance system. To understand the virological evolution of this emerging outbreak, 326 VP1 gene sequences of EV71 detected in China from 1987 to 2009 were collected for genetic analyses. Evidence from both traditional and molecular epidemiology confirmed that the recent HFMD outbreak was an emerging one caused by EV71 of subgenotype C4. This emerging HFMD outbreak is associated with EV71 of subgenotype C4, circulating persistently in mainland China since 1998, but not attributed to the importation of new genotype. Originating from 1992, subgenotype C4 has been the predominant genotype since 1998 in mainland China, with an evolutionary rate of 4.6∼4.8×10⁻³ nucleotide substitutions/site/year. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the majority of the virus during this epidemic was the most recent descendant of subgenotype C4 (clade C4a). It suggests that the evolution might be one of the potential reasons for this native virus to cause the emerging outbreak in China. However, strong negative selective pressure on VP1 protein of EV71 suggested that immune escape might not be the evolving strategy of EV71, predicting a light future for vaccine development. Nonetheless, long-term antigenic and genetic surveillance is still necessary for further understanding.     

2010年7～12月肠道病毒B组河南株的血清学分布

本文对河南省2010年7~12月的HFMD监测标本进行了肠道病毒B组的血清型分布研究。来自HFMD病例的阳性病毒分离物进行分子分型方法鉴定并进行VP1完整编码区核苷酸序列测定和分析。所获VP1全序与其他B组各基因型代表株和中国大陆株进行比较并构建系统发生树。共获得14株HEV-B河南株,分为E1、E6 、E11、 E13、 E25、 E30共6个血清型。VP1系统进化分析显示2010年河南HEV-B分离株与原型株亲缘关系较远,E25、E11和E6均与山东株亲缘关系最近,E1和E13均与云南株亲缘关系最近,E30与2008年河南株亲缘关系最近。E6病毒存在两种基因型的共循环现象。     

Epidemics and Frequent Recombination within Species in Outbreaks of Human Enterovirus B-Associated Hand,Foot and Mouth Disease in Shandong China in 2010 and 2011

The epidemiology and molecular characteristics of human enterovirus B (HEV-B) associated with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreaks in China are not well known. In the present study, we tested 201 HEV isolates from 233 clinical specimens from patients with severe HFMD during 2010–2011 in Linyi, Shandong, China. Of the 201 isolates, 189 were fully typed and 18 corresponded to HEV-B species (six serotypes CVA9, CVB1, CVB4, Echo 6, Echo 25 and Echo 30) using sensitive semi-nested polymerase chain reaction analysis of VP1 gene sequences. Phylogenetic analysis based on the VP1 region showed that eight E30SD belonged to a novel sub-genogroup D2; E25SD belonged to a novel sub-genogroup D6; E6SD belonged to sub-lineage C6 and five CVB1SD belonged to subgroup 4C; and B4SD belonged sub-lineage D2. The full viral genomes of the CVB1SD, E6SD, E25SD and E30SD isolates were sequenced. Analysis of phylogenetic and similarity plots indicated that E25SD recombined with E25-HN-2, E30FDJS03 and E4AUS250 at noncontiguous P2A–P3D regions, while E30SD, E30FDJ03, E25-HN-2 and E9 DM had shared sequences in discrete regions of P2 and P3. Both E6SD and B1SD shared sequences with E1-HN, B4/GX/10, B5-HN, and A9-Alberta in contiguous regions of most of P2 and P3. Genetic algorithm recombination detection analysis further confirmed the existence of multiple potential recombination points. In conclusion, analysis of the complete genomes of E25SD, E30SD, CVB1SD and E6SD isolated from HFMD patients revealed that they formed novel subgenogroup. Given the prevalence and recombination of these viruses in outbreaks of HFMD, persistent surveillance of HFMD-associated HEV-B pathogens is required to predict potential emerging viruses and related disease outbreaks.     

A comparative study of the characteristics of two Coxsackie A virus type 16 strains (genotype B)

Coxsackie A virus is one of the major pathogens associated with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). The etiological characteristics of Coxsackie A virus type 16 (CA16) are thought to correlate with the pathological process of its infection. Two CA16 strains that were isolated from a severe HFMD patient presented with different plaque forms. This observation, along with biological analysis, indicated that the differences in the strains?? biological characteristics, such as proliferation kinetics and immunogenicity, correlate with differences in their pathogenicity toward neonatal mice. Furthermore, these differences are thought to be associated with the sequence of the 5?? non-coding region of the viral genome and the VP1 structural region sequence. The results suggest that the biological and genetic characteristics of the CA16 viral strains are relevant to their pathogenicity.     

Circulation of Coxsackievirus A10 and A6 in Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease in China, 2009–2011

Coxsackieviruses A10 (CV-A10) and A6 (CV-A6) have been associated with increasingly occurred sporadic hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) cases and outbreak events globally. However, our understanding of epidemiological and genetic characteristics of these new agents remains far from complete. This study was to explore the circulation of CV-A10 and CV-A6 in HFMD and their genetic characteristics in China. A hospital based surveillance was performed in three heavily inflicted regions with HFMD from March 2009 to August 2011. Feces samples were collected from children with clinical diagnosis of HFMD. The detection and genotyping of enteroviruses was performed by real-time PCR and sequencing of 5′UTR/VP1 regions. Phylogenetic analysis and selection pressure were performed based on the VP1 sequences. Logistic regression model was used to identify the effect of predominant enterovirus serotypes in causing severe HFMD. The results showed 92.0% of 1748 feces samples were detected positive for enterovirus, with the most frequently presented serotypes as EV-71 (944, 54.0%) and CV-A16 (451, 25.8%). CV-A10 and CV-A6 were detected as a sole pathogen in 82 (4.7%) and 44 (2.5%) cases, respectively. Infection with CV-A10 and EV-71 were independently associated with high risk of severe HFMD (OR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.40–5.06; OR = 4.81, 95% CI: 3.07–7.53), when adjusted for age and sex. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that distinct geographic and temporal origins correlated with the gene clusters based on VP1 sequences. An overall ω value of the VP1 was 0.046 for CV-A10 and 0.047 for CV-A6, and no positively selected site was detected in VP1 of both CV-A10 and CV-A6, indicating that purifying selection shaped the evolution of CV-A10 and CV-A6. Our study demonstrates variety of enterovirus genotypes as viral pathogens in causing HFMD in China. CV-A10 and CV-A6 were co-circulating together with EV-71 and CV-A16 in recent years. CV-A10 infection might also be independently associated with severe HFMD.     

Genomic surveillance of coxsackievirus A10 reveals genetic features and recent appearance of genogroup D in Shanghai,China, 2016-2020

Coxsackievirus A10 (CVA10) is one of the major causative agents of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). To investigate the epidemiological characteristics as well as genetic features of CVA10 currently circulating in Shanghai, China, we collected a total of 9,952 sporadic HFMD cases from January 2016 to December 2020. In the past five years, CVA10 was the fourth prevalent causatives associated with HFMD in Shanghai and the overall positive rate was 2.78%. The annual distribution experienced significant fluctuations over the past five years. In addition to entire VP1 sequencing, complete genome sequencing and recombination analysis of CVA10 isolates in Shanghai were further performed. A total of 64 near complete genomes and 11 entire VP1 sequences in this study combined with reference sequences publicly available were integrated into phylogenetic analysis. The CVA10 sequences in this study mainly belonged to genogroup C and presented 91%-100% nucleotide identity with other Chinese isolates based on VP1 region. For the first time, our study reported the appearance of CVA10 genogroup D in Chinese mainland, which had led to large-scale outbreaks in Europe previously. The recombination analysis showed the recombination break point located between 5,100 nt and 6,700 nt, which suggesting intertypic recombination with CVA16 genogroup D. To conclusion, CVA10 genogroup C was the predominant genogroup in Shanghai during 2016-2020. CVA10 recombinant genogroup D was firstly reported in circulating in Chinese mainland. Continuous surveillance is needed to better understand the evolution relationships and transmission pathways of CVA10 to help to guide disease control and prevention.     

Complete sequence analyses of enterovirus 71 strains from fatal and non-fatal cases of the hand,foot and mouth disease outbreak in Singapore (2000)

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a major aetiological agent of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). In recent years, several outbreaks in East Asia were associated with neurological complications and numerous deaths. An outbreak in Singapore in October 2000 afflicted thousands of children, resulting in four fatal cases from three of whom EV71 was isolated. The genomes of two representative EV71 strains isolated from a fatal case and a surviving patient were completely sequenced, and their nucleotide and amino acid sequences compared with known EV71 strains. The two outbreak strains were classified under genogroup B, together with those previously isolated in Singapore, Malaysia and Japan. Comparative sequence analysis of the two Singapore strains revealed 99% nucleotide similarity, while their deduced amino acid sequences were almost identical except for residue 1506 in the 3A non-structural region. Given that the outbreak involved closely related genetic variants of EV71, the broad spectrum of disease severity may be attributed to critical factors such as varying viral inoculation doses or differing host immune responses following infection, but is less likely to be due to the emergence of EV71 strains with heightened virulence.     

Genotypes of the Enterovirus Causing Hand Foot and Mouth Disease in Shanghai,China, 2012-2013

Sporadic HFMD (hand foot and mouth disease, HFMD) cases and outbreaks caused by etiologic agents other than EV71 and CA16 have increased globally. We conducted this study to investigate the prevalence and genetic characteristics of enteroviruses, especially the non-EV71 and non-CA16 enteroviruses, causing HFMD in Shanghai. Clinical specimens were collected from patients with a diagnosis of HFMD. A partial length of VP1 was amplified with RT-PCR and subjected to direct sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using MEGA 5.0. The ages of the HFMD cases ranged from 3 to 96 months, and the male/female ratio was 1.41. The median hospital stay was 2.96 days. Up to 18.0% of patients had neurologic system complications such as encephalitis, meningoencephalitis or meningitis. Of the 480 samples, 417 were positive for enterovirus (86.9%) with RT-PCR. A total of 13 enterovirus genotypes were identified. The most frequent genotypes were CA6 (31.9%), EV71 (30.6%), CA16 (8.8%) and CA10 (7.5%). Infections with CA6, EV71, CA16 and CA10 were prevalent throughout the years of study, while the proportion of CA6 notably increased from Sep. 2012 to Dec. 2013. Phylogenetic analyses showed that EV71 strains belonged to the C4a subgenogroup and CA16 was identified as B1b subgenogroup. The CA6 strains were assigned to genogroup F, whereas the CA10 strains were assigned to genogroup D. Patients infected with CA6 were typically younger, had a shorter hospital stay and had a lower incidence of neurologic system complications when compared to patients infected with EV71. Our study demonstrates that the enterovirus genotypes causing HFMD were diversified, and there was an increasing prevalence of the non-EV71 and non-CA16 enteroviruses from 2012 to 2013. CA6 was the most predominant pathogen causing HFMD from Sep. 2012 to Dec. 2013, and it often caused relatively mild HFMD symptoms. Most severe HFMD cases were associated with EV71 infection.