Current Detection Methodology for Enterovirus 71

Ting-Han Lin and Jyh-Yuan Yang

2012 Vol.28 NO.6

Correspondence Author： Ting-Han Lin

Abstract：

Enterovirus infections occur frequently in China, Taiwan, Singapore, Korea, and Malaysia for the last couple of years, especially in Mainland China with significant high number of fatal cases. The high risk group for the severe and fatal cases of EV infection, especially EV71, is children less than 5 year olds. There are still no vaccines or antiviral drugs available specific against EV 71 infection. In addition, detection of EV71 infection still needs to be processed in advanced laboratory and operated by experienced & well-trained working staffs, these diagnostic techniques including virus isolation by cell culture, immunofluorescence assay (IFA), or EIA to detect anti-EV71 IgM, RT-PCR and sequencing for EV71, rtRT-PCR for pan-Enterovirus and CODEHOP for EV infections. It usually will take days to get the final result for the whole process. Therefore, a rapid test to quickly screen for EV71 infection will be helpful for medical doctor and public health officer. Immunochromatographic test (ICT) is the most used platform to do the rapid test and it needs no reading machine and well trained personnel to perform the test in the first line when facing suspected cases. Therefore, it can provide preliminary data for health care worker and public health worker to adopt appropriate medical support and preventive measure to stop the infection immediately.