Characterization of Circulating Coxsackieviruses in Kenya in 2007

Abstract

Coxsackieviruses (CVs) infect humans and cause various Coxsackievirus infections (CVIs). CVs are classified in Picornaviridae family, genus Enterovirus and are of species A and B. Currently, CVIs have no specific cure but are managed by various methods. Unmanaged CVIs may be fatal. In 2007, a high prevalence of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) was detected by clinicians engaged to carry out ILI survey in selected regions of Kenya by the US Army Medical Research Directorate Kenya (USAMD-K). Twenty-two (22) out of 2925 nasopharyngeal samples collected from patients were positive for CVIs through IFA procedure. Whereas CVs caused some of the ILIs, the prevalence of CVIs, the identity of the CVs and other virologic characteristics were unknown. To begin to address this knowledge gap, this study was carried out with the main objective being to serologically and molecularly characterize CVs in the 22 samples to determine the prevalence of CVIs, species, serotypes, the phylogeny, and the evolution of the CVs to relate the data to ILIs of 2007. The CVs were multiplied in Rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells, their RNAs extracted and their partial VP1 genes amplified and sequenced. Twelve (12) CVs of CV_B species; serotypes CV_B2-CV_B5 were identified, 11NS were assigned accession no.s MH522779 - MH522789 and uploaded on GeneBank servers on 10th March 2019. Seroprevalence nice actual prevalence of CVIs were 0.74% and 0.41% respectively. All the CVs had mutations and only of CVs of serotypes CV_B2 and CV_B3 had evolved divergent VP1 proteins with high infectivity that partly caused the high prevalence of ILIs in 2007. Data from this study enriches the information base on CVs in Kenya and can be used to develop diagnostics and therapeutics against CVIs.