Iranian Journal of Microbiology (Aug 2021)

First seroepidemiological investigation of human enterovirus 71 in Iran

  • Mahsa Javadi,
  • Ahmad Nejati,
  • Maryam Yousefi,
  • Mahmood Mahmoodi,
  • Zabihollah Shoja,
  • Shohreh Shahmahmoodi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v13i4.6975
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 4

Abstract

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Background and Objectives: Human Enterovirus 71 (EV-A71) is the causative agent for many dermal to neurological diseases especially polio-like paralysis outbreaks around the world. This study, the first of this kind in Iran, aimed to find neutralizing antibodies against EV-A71 in serum of healthy individuals in different age groups based on neutralization test (NT). Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 547 serum samples were collected from healthy individuals who were referring for routine checkup tests (aged from under 6 months to over 31 years old) to Imam-Khomeini Hospital in Tehran during January-December 2015. Serum samples were examined by NT in cell culture to detect neutralizing antibodies against EV-A71. In the next step, some of the positive samples were subjected to complete titration to determine the exact titer of anti-EV-A71 antibodies. Results: Of 547 samples, 310 (56.7%) were positive for EV-A71 neutralizing antibody. The presence of the antibody increased with age (p<0.001), and there was a significant statistical relationship between sex and the presence of antibody (p=0.009). Conclusion: Our results demonstrated an apparent but limited circulation of EV-A71 in our society. After the worldwide eradication of poliovirus, EV-A71 which can cause polio-likes syndrome, might be the new challenge for our health care system as regard more in depth research is however needed.

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