Virological Surveillance of Enteroviral Infection in Bulgaria During the Period 2001–2004

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe results of virological investigations of patients with a suspect enterovirus etiology of diseases conducted in the National Reference Enterovirus Laboratory during the period 2001–2004 are presented. The epidemic outbreak of Poliomyelitis observed in March-May 2001 is given a special place in the report. Three cases of wild polio type 1 virus-associated Poliomyelitis were registered then. Wild polio type 1 virus was isolated from two patients and from two healthy children. Its North Indian origin was proved by genetic analysis of the wild polio isolates carried out in CDC-Atlanta. The epidemic outbreak of Aseptic Meningitis in summer 2001 was investigated virologically. The NREL proved that it was caused mostly by enterovirus ECHO30. This virus was isolated from clinical materials of the most patients with Aseptic Meningitis and from some healthy persons as well. That fact proved the active circulation of enterovirus ECHO30 among the Bulgarian population in summer 2001. In 2002–2004 big epidemic outbreaks weren't established. Since the epidemic outbreak of Poliomyelitis in 2001 wild polioviruses weren't isolated. A serotype diversity of enterovirus isolates without domination of certain serotype was observed. The role of some nonpolioenteroviruses in cases with an Acute Flaccid Paralyses in children under 15 years old and in some diseases of the central nervous system (Aseptic Meningitis and Meningoencephalitis) was established.