TYPE DIVERSITY OF NON-POLIOMYELITIS ENTEROVIRUSES THAT CIRCULATED IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS IN 2022–2023

Enterovirus infections (EVI) are a group of acute infectious diseases of viral etiology caused by various members of the Enterovirus genus, currently including more than 100 types of non-polio enteroviruses (NPEV). EVI cause a serious health problem in many countries around the world, including the Republic of Belarus.

This work is dedicated to the analysis of the monitoring studies results of the type diversity of NPEV that circulated in different territories of the Republic of Belarus in 2022–2023, and their molecular genetics as well as the epidemiological characteristics, the recorded incidence rates of EVI being taken into account.

Population of NPEV in 2022–2023 on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, was represented by both regularly registered serotypes Coxsackie B 4, Coxsackie B 5, Coxsackie A 1, Coxsackie A 5, Coxsackie A 9, ECHO 6, ECHO 7, ECHO 9, ECHO 11, and the newly identified enterovirus HEV B80. In the structure of NPEV, the group of ECHO viruses prevailed (51.9 %) with the dominance of serotype ECHO 6 (40,7 %).

The main etiological agents of enteroviral meningitis registered in the republic in 2023 were the ECHO 6 viruses of the ECHO 6 C1_BY1 genovariant. 2023 was another year of increased incidence of EVI. Based on the patterns of dynamics of the epidemic process of EVI and the situation in the world, the 2024 may become a period of another epidemic rise. In these conditions, molecular epidemiological monitoring of NPEVs circulating in the country on a regular basis is a matter of particular importance for the purpose of early detection of their new seroand genotypes with high epidemic potential.

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