Abstract:

【Abstract】 Objective  To investigate the etiological properties and pathogen distribution in hand-foot and mouth disease(HFMD) in Suzhou area in 2015 for evidences to plan strategies in prevention and control of HFMD prevalence. Methods  Real-time PCR was used to detect the enterovirus 71(EV71), specific nucleic acid in Coxasckie virus A16(CoxA16) and in other enteroviruses(Non-EV 71 and Non-CoxA16). Results  In 324 samples clinically diagnosed as HFMD, 137(42.3%) were found with positive nucleic acid. Thirty-five positive samples were associated with EV 71 infection(10.8%, 35/324), and the constituent ratio was 23.5%(35/137). Twenty-six samples were involved in CoxA16 infection, with positive rate of 8.0%(26/324) and positive ratio of 19.0%(26/137). Another 76 samples were associated with other enterovirus infection(Non-EV 71 and Non-CoxA16). The positive rate was 23.5%(76/324), and positive ratio, 55.5%(76/327). The infection ratio of male to female was 1.6:1, and the positive rate was 43.4%(86/198) and 39.7%(50/126) with no significant difference(χ2=0.445, P>0.05). The patients aged from 0 to 3 years were mostly affected, HFMD prevalence was peaked in January and April through July, in which period the positive rate was over 50%. Conclusion  The peak prevalence of HFMD was observed in spring, summer and autumn seasons in Suzhou area in 2015, and children under 3 years are mostly affected. The enteroviruses are primarily associated with other pathogens except for infection with EV 71 and CoxA16.

Key words:  Hand-foot-mouth disease, Enterovirus, Pathogen detection