Nonpolio enterovirus (NPEV) surveillance data show that isolates
from
March through May predict the types likely to be isolated in July
through December, which includes the peak enterovirus season (1).
State
virology laboratories have reported to CDC 31 NPEV isolates
obtained
from patients in the United States from March through May 1989.
Coxsackievirus B5 was isolated most frequently (16 isolates),
followed
by echovirus 6 (two isolates), and coxsackievirus B3,
coxsackievirus
A3, and echovirus 9 (one each); 10 isolates were reported as
untyped
enteroviruses.
Of the 946 NPEV isolates reported in 1988, the six most common
were
echovirus 11 (18.6%), echovirus 9 (14.1%), coxsackievirus B4
(10.6%),
coxsackievirus B2 (9.2%), echovirus 6 (6.2%), and coxsackievirus B5
(5.1%). In 1988, these six NPEV types represented 64% of the total
enterovirus isolates.
Reported by: State virology laboratory directors. Respiratory and
Enterovirus Br, Div of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, Center for
Infectious Diseases, CDC.
Editorial Note
Editorial Note: Enteroviruses are a group of 65 different, common
agents that cause 10-20 million mild upper respiratory infections
in
the United States every year. Enteroviruses are also responsible
for
tens of thousands of hospitalizations for aseptic meningitis each
year.
Knowledge of the common enterovirus subtypes may assist diagnostic
laboratories in more rapidly identifying enterovirus isolates and
assist public health officials in recognizing outbreaks of
enteroviral
disease.
Since 1970, state health department laboratories have reported on
enterovirus serotypes to CDC approximately 6-8 weeks after
specimens
are submitted for identification. From 1970 through 1983, the six
most
common isolates in March through May accounted for an average of
59% of
the isolates in July through December, and for this period in
1984-1988, for 50%-58% of the isolates.
The NPEV isolates reported in early 1989 included many
coxsackievirus
B5 and several of three other types; however, the limited number of
these four types makes it impossible to predict at this time that
they
will be common isolates in 1989. The top six isolates reported in
1988
and each of the four isolates reported in March through May 1989
were
in the 15 most frequent isolates for 1970-1983 (1).
Reference
Strikas RA, Anderson LJ, Parker RA. Temporal and geographic
patterns
of isolates of nonpolio enterovirus in the United States,
1970-1983. J
Infect Dis 1986;153:346-51.
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