Enterovirus

Enterovirus is a genus of the Picornaviridae family. Particularly important for humans are poliovirus, Coxsackie virus, ECHO virus and the humane enteroviruses with their subtypes Human enterovirus 70 and Human enterovirus 71 The genus Enterovirus includes nine species with a total of 68 different subtypes. The enterovirus infections occur worldwide and dissolve in Germany in the summer time from common diseases.

Transmission

The transfer of all belonging to the genus Enterovirus types of virus is predominantly fecal-oral route, however, is for some pathogens and the droplet infection than infection in question. Also possible is the placental ( via the placenta ) Transmission of the virus with infection of the fetus. Infected shed the virus often over several weeks with the chair. In the transmission of human- to-human contaminated hands play the most important role. Enteroviruses remain stable on contaminated articles, for example, toys, a long time. Such items are considered as possible source of infection, especially in intrafamilial outbreaks or epidemics of retail space in a child- heritage -scattering facilities.

Another source of infection is contaminated drinking water. After a contamination of swimming pools or lakes with faeces of infected transmission of these viruses is possible, which is why it often leads to clusters of aseptic meningitis, in particular caused by ECHO virus, just immediately after hot summer days.

Infection episodes

The incubation period is 2 to 35 days. The problems caused by enterovirus diseases ranging from polio, upper respiratory tract infections ( common cold, " summer flu" ), herpangina, hand-foot -mouth disease, gastroenteritis, febrile generalized rashes, hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, myalgia epidemica, pneumonia, Pleurodynia epidemic, myocarditis, pericarditis, hepatitis, meningitis, encephalitis, paralysis, fetal injury to a severe neonatal disease with pneumonia, myocarditis and meningoencephalitis.

Therapy

Treatment is symptomatic and depends on the affected organ system. Specific antiviral therapy is not available. An experimental vaccines and antiviral agents are working. For example, bovine and human lactoferrins act as inhibitors of EV71 infection and ribavirin could be a potential anti - EV71 drug - drug to be. In the U.S., was registered in 2006 as U.S. Patent 7,090,855 a also subsequently acting enterovirus prophylaxis. Myocarditis was successfully treated in the test with interferon -a. Amantadine can also support a general increase inhibitor for RNA viruses the immune system.

After the infection probably results in a lifelong serotypes - specific immunity. Favored these infections are caused by poor sanitation and a lack of water hygiene. At normal ambient temperature, the pathogens are very stable. Major outbreaks regularly, as for example in the summer of 2002 from Athens, reported where there had been related to clusters of Coxsackie B virus myocarditis with deaths. In Germany, with major outbreaks usually echovirus serotype 30 detected, causing aseptic meningitis.

Prevention

A vaccine is not available for most types of virus. Risk reduction measures are thorough hand washing, possibly with hand disinfection with infected people, after defecation, strict hygiene measures when preparing food, eating cooked food and fruit peeled.

System

• Genus enterovirus

• Species Bovine enterovirus
• Species Human enterovirus A - Coxsackie virus
• Species Human enterovirus B - Coxsackie virus, echovirus
• Species Human enterovirus C
• Species Human enterovirus D
• Species poliovirus
• Species Porcine enterovirus A
• Porcine enterovirus B species
• Species Simian enterovirus A