First isolation and genomic characterization of enterovirus A71 and coxsackievirus A16 from hand foot and mouth disease patients in the Lao PDR.

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) and coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) are major aetiological agents of hand, foot and mouth disease in Asia. We established the first genomic characterization of strains isolated in 2011 from Lao patients. Isolates were related to EV-A71 genotype C4 and CV-A16 genotype B1a that circulated in neighbouring countries during the same period. This confirms the regional character of hand, foot and mouth disease epidemiology and makes plausible the occurrence of severe disease in the Lao population.

Screening and detection of human enterovirus 71 infection by a real-time RT-PCR assay in Marseille, France, 2009-2011.

Enterovirus-positive samples diagnosed in Marseille (January 2009 to September 2011) were screened for EV71 by real-time RT-PCR. EV71 was detected in three children below the age of 2 years with no history of overseas travel; two of these cases were associated with severe clinical presentation. Viruses demonstrated genetic similarity to other European genogroup C2 strains. Strain MRS/09/3663 complete sequencing revealed 97.6% identity across the entire genome with a 2008 Singapore isolate, without signs of possible recombination events. To our knowledge, this is the first detection of EV71 infection in Marseille, France, that confirms the current circulation of EV71 in France.