Prevalence and Phylogenetic Characterization of Enterovirus D68 in Pediatric Patients with Acute Respiratory Tract Infection in Thailand

Jpn J Infect Dis. 2016 Sep 21;69(5):426-30. doi: 10.7883/yoken.JJID.2015.352. Epub 2015 Nov 13.

Abstract

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is associated with severe lower respiratory tract infection and neurological abnormalities including acute myelitis and cranial nerve dysfunction. To determine whether an increased incidence of EV-D68 occurs in Southeast Asia, we retrospectively tested specimens collected from Thai pediatric patients who were less than 5 years of age and presented with acute respiratory tract infections between 2012 and 2014. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequencing of the 5'-UTR/VP2 region were used to identify EV-D68. We also examined the epidemiological pattern of EV-D68 since 2009, when it was first identified in Thailand, and compiled records of clinical manifestations in children with confirmed EV-D68 infection. From 837 samples, 5 samples (0.6%) tested positive for EV-D68. All patients presented with viral pneumonia and required hospitalization. Phylogenetic analysis of the VP4/VP2 regions revealed that EV-D68 strains circulating in Thailand between 2012 and 2014 were closely related to strains reported in Japan, United Kingdom, China, and France. Continued surveillance of probable EV-D68-associated severe respiratory tract infection and the development of a rapid diagnostic test for EV-D68 are essential in supporting awareness and facilitating disease prevention and control.

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Enterovirus / classification
  • Enterovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Enterovirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Enterovirus Infections / virology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Phylogeny
  • Prevalence
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / virology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology
  • Thailand / epidemiology
  • Viral Structural Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Viral Structural Proteins