1Enteric Viruses Group, National Institute of Virology 20-A, Dr. Ambedkar Road, Pune-411 001, India.
2Minto eye hospital, Victoria, Bangalore-2, India.
3National Institute of Ophthalmology, Pune-411 005, India.
4Grant Medical College and JJ group of Hospitals, Mumbai-400 008, India.
5Indira Gandhi Govt. Medical College, Nagpur-440 018, India.
Abstracts of the papers presented at the XVIII National Conference of Indian Virological Society at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India, December 11–13, 2008.
Outbreaks of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis have been reported worldwide including India. Among enteroviruses, a variant of CoxsackieA-24 (CA24v), EV-70 and Adenoviruses are known to cause epidemics and pandemics. Outbreaks of AHC were reported from Pune, Mumbai, Nagpur (Maharashtra) and Bangalore (Karnataka) during 2006–2007. Investigation was carried out to identify viral etiological agents involved. Conjunctival swabs were collected from patients from Pune (n=30) in 2006 and Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur (n=39), Bangalore (n=25) in 2007. Virus isolation was carried out in HeLa cells. Enterovirus detection and characterization was done by mouse pathogenecity tests, RT-PCR using 5’NCR, VP-1,3C-proteinase genes. Adenovirus detection was done by DNA PCR of Hexon gene. A total of 27 isolates of 2006–07 showed presence of enteroviral RNA by RT-PCR of 5’NCR gene. None contained EV-70 or Adenovirus genome. Sequencing of PCR products and phylogenetic analysis revealed 97.-99% nucleotide identity with reference strain of CA-24v DSO isolate in 5’NCR, 97.1–98% in 3C-proteinase and 96.5–98.9% in VP-1 genes. Suckling mice developed Fore and Hind limb paralysis. The present study established CA-24v as the viral etiological agent associated during 2006–2007 AHC outbreaks in reported regions.
