Hand, foot, and mouth disease outbreak by Coxsackievirus A6 during COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Author(s):Show less -

Carmona, Rita C. C. ; Machado, Braulio C. ; Reis, Fabricio C. ; Jorge, Adriana M. V. ; Cilli, Audrey ; Dias, Amanda M. N. ; Morais, Daniele R. ; Leme, Lucas ; Yu, Ana L. F. ; Silva, Marcela R. ; Carvalhanas, Telma R. M. P. ; Timenetsky, Maria C. S. T.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Clinical Virology; v. 154, p. 4-pg., 2022-07-24.

Abstract

Introduction: Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is an acute febrile illness characterized by fever; sore throat; and vesicular eruptions on the hands, feet, and oral mucosa. Outbreaks of HFMD in children aged <5 years have been reported worldwide and the major causative agents are Coxsackievirus (CV)A16, enterovirus (EV)-A71 and recently CVA6. Aim and methods: The aim of this study was to investigated a large outbreak of Hand, foot, and mouth disease during COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 from clinical samples of 315 suspected cases, in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Diagnostic evaluation was performed by RT-qPCR, culture cell isolation and serological neutralization assay. EV-positive were genotyped by partial VP1 genome sequencing. Results: One hundred and forty-nine cases analyzed were positive for enterovirus (47.3%; n = 149/315) by neutralizing test (n = 10 patients) and RT-qPCR (n = 139 patients), and identified as CVA6 sub-lineage D3 by analysis of VP1 partial sequences. Conclusions: This finding indicated the reemergence of CVA6 in HFMD, soon after the gradual easing of non-pharmaceutical interventions during-pandemic COVID-19 and the relevance of continued surveillance of circulating enterovirus types in the post-COVID pandemic era. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/50333-7 - Institutional research development plan of the Instituto Adolfo Lutz (PDIp)
• Grantee: Carlos Henrique Camargo
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - State Research Institutes Modernization Program
• FAPESP's process: 17/05350-0 - Genetic Diversity non-polio enterovirus detected in patients with acute flaccid paralysis in São Paulo State.
• Grantee: Rita de Cássia Compagnoli Carmona
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants