Enterovirus D68: Epidemiology of a Virus that Causes Pediatric Infectious Disease

Abstract

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is a respiratory virus that primarily affects children and has been associated with sporadic outbreaks of respiratory illness worldwide. This study aimed to carry out a literature review considering several aspects involving EV-D68 infection: epidemiology, molecular evolution, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of this infection. Data from 976 whole genome sequences (WGS) of EV-D68 collected between September 1977 to September 2022 showed substitution rates of 4.06E10‐3 nucleotides per site per year (s/s/y). Phylogenetic tree of EV-D68 by clades (A1, A2, B, B1, B2, B3, and C) was performed. The time to the most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) of A1 was 2005-04-17 in the USA, A2 was 2003-12-23 in China, B was 2003-07-06 in China, B1 was 2010-03-21 in Vietnam, B2 was 2006-11-25 in Vietnam, B3 was 2011-01-15 in China, and C was 2000-06-27 in the USA. The immune response to EV-D68 involves both innate and adaptive immunity, with the production of neutralizing antibodies and activation of T cells playing crucial roles. Prevention strategies for EV-D68 include practicing good hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and avoiding close contact with infected individuals. In conclusion, EV-D68 was originated in Canada in 1995 and spread to Europe, Asia, Oceania, Latin America, and Africa.

Keywords

• Enterovirus D68
• respiratory illness
• molecular evolution
• epidemiology