title: Echovirus 30 meningitis epidemic followed by an outbreak-specific RT-qPCR.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An outbreak of enteroviral aseptic meningitis emerged in Southwestern Finland in August 2009. The same enterovirus reappeared with increasing incidence of meningitis in other parts of Finland in 2010.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the incidence and molecular epidemiology of enteroviral meningitis outbreak.
  
  
  METHODS
  The causative agent was identified as echovirus 30 (E-30) by sequencing partial viral protein 1 capsid genome, and a virus type-specific RT-qPCR was set up for sensitive detection of the virus in cerebrospinal fluid specimens. Enterovirus positive CSF specimens were subjected to the E-30-specific assay to investigate this unusual occurrence of aseptic meningitis and facilitate case confirmation during the outbreaks between August 2009 and September 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  E-30 was detected in 106 (72%) enterovirus positive cerebrospinal fluid specimens. All the meningitis cases in 2009 and most of them in 2010 were among adolescents and several were members of sport teams.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Between August 2009 and September 2010, E-30 caused an extensive outbreak with two peaks in Finland. Type-specific RT-PCR allowed rapid diagnostic follow-up of the epidemic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, University of Turku, Finland. Electronic address: riikka.osterback@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Riikka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Österback
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Department of Pediatrics, Seinäjoki Central Hospital, Seinäjoki, Finland.
authors.forename: Teemu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kalliokoski
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Tuire
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lähdesmäki
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Ville
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Peltola
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ruuskanen
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004457:Echovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D029822:Enterovirus B, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Echovirus 30; Enterovirus; Meningitis; RT-qPCR