B1c genetic subtype of coxsackievirus A16 associated with hand, foot and mouth disease in Andaman Islands, India

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2016 Jul;110(7):421-3. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trw042.

Abstract

Background: An outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) occurred in the Andaman Islands in 2013. Therefore, we aimed to identify the aetiological agent and to explore its genetic characteristics.

Methods: Clinical specimens were subjected to virus isolation, further confirmed by sequencing the partial VP1/2A region of enterovirus, and analysed using MEGA 6 software with intra-serotype reference sequences.

Results: Coxsackievirus A16 (CV A16) was found to be the causative agent, closely grouped with B1c genetic clusters of CV A16. However, it has significant genetic distance (K2P=0.059%) with B1c sub-clusters.

Conclusion: Extended research work should be carried out to better understand the emerging nature of CV A16 associated with HFMD in these islands.GenBank accession numbers: KU523376-KU523387.

Keywords: Andaman Islands - India; B1c genetic sub-cluster; Coxsackievirus A16; Hand foot and mouth disease; Molecular characterisation; Virus Isolation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Enterovirus / genetics*
  • Enterovirus / isolation & purification
  • Female
  • Genotype*
  • Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease / epidemiology
  • Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease / virology*
  • Humans
  • India / epidemiology
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Islands
  • Male
  • Phylogeny*
  • Serogroup