Predominant enterovirus serotypes in the Vojvodina region (Serbia)

Abstract

Enteroviruses are small, non-enveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses that belong to the family Picornaviridae. At the moment, there are more than 100 known human serotypes classified in 4 species, and new types are being discovered every year. Enteroviruses infect millions of people worldwide. The clinical manifestations of enteroviral infections range from mild respiratory illness to severe diseases such as myocarditis, neonatal sepsis, type I diabetes and aseptic meningitis. Enteroviruses are excreted in large quantities in the feces of infected individuals and remain viable for long periods of time in the environment. They spread mainly by the fecal-oral route, through direct contact with secretions from an infected person and contaminated water and food. Enteroviruses demonstrate significant serotype variation by time, geographic location, and disease. Serotyping enables the identification of endemic circulating virus types, types responsible for outbreaks, and the monitoring of changes in the pathogenicity, virulence, and epidemic potential of different enteroviral types. To identify the predominant types of enteroviruses included in the etiology of aseptic meningitis in the Vojvodina region (Serbia), a total of 70 samples (29 cerebrospinal fluid specimens, 27 stool specimens, 9 rectal swabs, and 5 throat swabs) were obtained from pediatric patients suspected of having aseptic meningitis. The presence of enteroviruses was detected by isolation in cell cultures and confirmed through the use of an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Isolate serotyping was performed using a neutralization assay and revealed 11 different viruses: coxsackie virus A16, coxsackie virus B3, 4 and 5, and echovirus 2, 4, 6, 11, 13, 16, and 30. The most prevalent were echoviruses (52.8 %), followed by coxsackie B (27.8 %), and coxsackie A viruses (8.3 %). Additional research is required to study the occurrence and persistence of enteroviruses in local surface waters and to assess the public health risk associated with an exposure to waters contaminated with these viral pathogens. © 2012 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.