title: Shift of Enterovirus species among children in Cameroon--identification of a new enterovirus, EV-A119.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infections caused by human enteroviruses (EVs) are often asymptomatic or mild, although they may cause more severe illnesses as meningitis and acute flaccid paralysis. EVs have globally posed a threat to children, and outbreaks of aseptic meningitis and hand, foot and mouth disease are frequently reported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify EV strains circulating among healthy children in a small community in Limbe, Cameroon two years apart.
  
  
  METHODS
  Species and EV types were obtained by partial 5'UTR-VP4 and VP1 sequencing of RNA from stool samples collected in October 2009 and September 2011 from 150 children in Cameroon.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 74 children (49%) were infected with 28 different types of EV. There were 29 (54%) infected children in 2009, and 45 (47%) in 2011. There was a significant difference between detected species of EV, with 15 (47%) children infected with EV-A in 2009, and 22 (71%) with EV-B in 2011 (p=0.0001). In 2009, one child was infected by a divergent EV, which was most similar to EV-A90. Based on the complete VP1 sequence, it was shown to be a new EV designated EV-A119.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study shows a high heterogeneity of circulating EV types among children in Limbe, Cameroon, and a previously not described shift in predominating EV species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases/Section of Clinical Virology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ayukekbong
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kabayiza
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindh
authors.forename: Theresia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nkuo-Akenji
authors.forename: Ferdinand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tah
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bergström
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Norder
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D000293:Adolescent; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins
keywords: CPE; CV; Cameroon; E; EV; Enterovirus; PCR; PV; Phylogenetic analysis; Species; UTR; VP1; coxsackievirus; cytopathic effect; echovirus; enterovirus; poliovirus; polymerase chain reaction; untranslated region; virus protein 1