Genetic characterization of Enterovirus 71 strains circulating in Vietnam in 2012

Donato C, Hoi LT, Hoa NT, Hoa TM, Duyet LV, Ngan TTD, Kinh NV, Trung NV, Vijaykrishna D. 2016. Virology 495:1-9.

Abstract

###Background Enterovirus 71 subgenogroup C4 caused the largest outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in Vietnam during 2011–2012, resulting in over 200,000 hospitalisations and 207 fatalities.

###Methods A total of 1917 samples with adequate volume for RT-PCR analysis were collected from patients hospitalised with HFMD throughout Vietnam and 637 were positive for EV71. VP1 gene (n=87) and complete genome (n=9) sequencing was performed. Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis was performed to characterise the B5, C4 and C5 strains detected.

###Results Sequence analyses revealed that the dominant subgenogroup associated with the 2012 outbreak was C4, with B5 and C5 strains representing a small proportion of these cases.

###Conclusions Numerous countries in the region including Malaysia, Taiwan and China have a large influence on strain diversity in Vietnam and understanding the transmission of EV71 throughout Southeast Asia is vital to inform preventative public health measures and vaccine development efforts.