title: Characterization of non-polio enterovirus isolates from acute flaccid paralysis children in Pakistan reflects a new genotype of EV-107.
abstract: Enteroviruses comprise a group of genetically diverse RNA viruses that usually cause respiratory illnesses, myocarditis, enteritis, meningitis, encephalitis and poliomyelitis. In this study, 23 non-polio enteroviruses, isolated during September-October 2009 from stool specimens of children suffering from acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) were subjected to serotype determination by using RIVM antiserum pools. Twenty-two isolates were identified as members of human enterovirus B (HEV-B) species except one that remained untypeable. Phylogenetic analysis of the untypeable isolate (PAKNIH-2009/23) based on the sequence of 5'UTR, capsid and 2A regions confirmed that this isolate is closely related to TN94-0349 strain of EV-107 serotype with 70.4% nucleotide similarity in VP1/2A junction, 79.4% in the capsid coding region and 89.1% in 5'UTR region respectively. Our data strongly suggests that PAKNIH-2009/23 is a genetically distinct strain of EV-107 currently circulating in Pakistan. This study also highlights the probable role of non-polio viral etiologies associated with AFP and needs to plan new strategies especially during the post polio eradication era.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shahzad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shaukat
authors.forename: Mehar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angez
authors.forename: Muhammad Masroor
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Salmaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharif
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khurshid
authors.forename: Tariq
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mahmood
authors.forename: Syed Sohail Zahoor
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Zaidi
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan; D010243:Paralysis / Q000821:virology*; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D036022:Capsid Proteins