Enterovirus B73 is a new member of the Enterovirus B species. First detected in the USA, it has been subsequently identified in China, India, Oman, and the Netherlands. In this study, we characterize the first B73 strain (named TO-127) to be detected in South America. TO-127 was obtained from a child with acute gastroenteritis living in a rural area in Northern Brazil. The subject was not infected with any known enteric pathogens such as norovirus, rotavirus, helminths, or enteric bacteria. Analysis of the nearly full-length TO-127 genome (6993 nt) indicated a 74⁻75% nucleotide similarity with EV-B73 strains from other countries. Evolutionary analysis suggests that B73 is endemic and widespread.
Keywords: enterovirus B73; gastroenteritis; pediatric virology; phylogenetics; picornavirus; virome.