Molecular characterization of an outbreak of enterovirus-associated meningitis in Mossel Bay, South Africa, December 2015-January 2016.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human enteroviruses (HEVs) are common causal agents of aseptic meningitis in young children. Laboratory and syndromic surveillance during December 2015 and January 2016 noted an unusually high number of paediatric aseptic meningitis cases at a hospital in Mossel Bay, Western Cape Province, South Africa. HEV was detected in clinical samples, prompting an outbreak investigation.

Methods

Epidemiological investigations were conducted to ascertain possible linkage between cases. Amplification, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the 5'UTR and VP1 regions was undertaken to determine the HEV serotype associated with the outbreak as well as other cases of aseptic meningitis in the area in the preceding 6 weeks.

Results

Over the 2-month period, 63 CSF samples we

SUBMITTER: Smuts H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6311073 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature