title: Droplet digital PCR as a useful tool for the quantitative detection of Enterovirus 71.
abstract: Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a contagious viral disease that frequently affects infants and children and present with blisters and flu-like symptoms. This disease is caused by a group of enteroviruses such as enterovirus 71 (EV71) and coxsackievirus A16 (CA16). However, unlike other HFMD causing enteroviruses, EV71 have also been shown to be associated with more severe clinical manifestation such as aseptic meningitis, brainstem and cerebellar encephalitis which may lead to cardiopulmonary failure and death. Clinically, HFMD caused by EV71 is indistinguishable from other HFMD causing enteroviruses such as CA16. Molecular diagnosis methods such as the use of real-time PCR has been used commonly for the identification of EV71. In this study, two platforms namely the real-time PCR and the droplet digital PCR were compared for the detection quantitation of known EV71 viral copy number. The results reveal accurate and consistent results between the two platforms. In summary, the droplet digital PCR was demonstrated to be a promising technology for the identification and quantitation of EV71 viral copy number.
authors: School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore, Singapore; Centre for Biomedical and Life Sciences, Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore, Singapore; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: edmundyanlong.lui@student.qut.edu.au.
authors: Yan Long Edmund
authors: YL
authors: Lui
authors: Centre for Biomedical and Life Sciences, Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Paediatrics, University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: englee@sp.edu.sg.
authors: Eng Lee
authors: EL
authors: Tan
mesh_terms: D029821:Enterovirus A, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D019562:Viral Load / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Droplet digital PCR; Enterovirus 71; Hand, foot and mouth disease; Quantitative real-time PCR