Molecular characteristics of etiologic agent of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis

Objective To identify the etiologic agent of acuteheorrhagic conjunctivitis(AHC) epidemic in Zhejiang province in 2007-2008.Methods The virus nucleotide (nt) of enterovirus(EV) and a variant of coxsackievirus A24 (CA24v) were detected with real tmie (RT) PCR.The viruses were isolated from the swab samples of suspected conjuncti vitis patients by the Hep-2.The RNAs of the viruses were extracted and amplified by RT-PCR for VP1 gene and 3C.The genes were sequenced and their phylogenetic and homology trees were constructed with DNAMAN and MEGA softwares.Results The complete VP1 gene of CA24v in 3 virus strains is 915 nt.The complete 3C is 549 nt.Both VP1 and 3C nucleotides does not have anyinsert or deletion.The identity of VP1,3C of Zhejiang/13/08 strain and prototype strain EH24/70 is 85.3% and 86.5%,and that of the strain and Singapore/DSO 26/05 in 2005 and Guangdong/332/07 in 2007 is 97.0% 99.1% and 96.7% 99.5%,respectively.The phylogenetic tree of 3C indicated that CA 24v isolated in Zhejiang located in the CA24v genotype Bbranch (G/B).The phylogenetic tree of VP1 gene belonges to the CA24v Group 2.Conclusion AHC epidemic in Zhejiang province in 20072008 was caused by CA24v G.They originated most likely from Singapore.