Abstract:
Enteroviruses are small non-enveloped isometric viruses that multiply in the
gut mucosa and are transmitted from person to person by the faecal-oral route.
Enteroviruses are a major cause of respiratory disturbances. Most infections
occur during childhood, and they are usually transient but produce lifelong
immunity. Clinical are generally mild, but occasionally infections may cause
serious disease e.g. meningitis. In this cross sectional laboratory based study,
the prevalence of enteroviruses infection was assessed in stored 287 samples
from children with Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) attending Kenyatta
National Hospital in Nairobi. Throatswabsamples were inoculated in human
Rhabdomysarcoma cells (RD cells) where positive samples were further
characterized using indirect fluorescent antibody tests (IDFAT) to
confirmenteroviruses.Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) was extracted frompositively
identified enteroviruses and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to
confirm them. These were sequenced, compared to otherenterovirusesdeposited
at GenBank and phylogenetic trees were drawn to establish genetic relatedness.
There were 24 (8.4%) CPE positive samples which were confirmed as
enteroviruses. Of these positive samples, 10 (41.7%) were further identified as
enterovirus, 9 (37.5%) coxsackie virus, 4 (16.7%) echovirus and 1 (4.2%)
poliovirus. Eventhough no significant correlations (χ
2
(df=3) = 0.320; p =
0.956)were noted, enteroviruses were more common in patients in their 1st
year
(n=19; 79.2%) followed by the 2nd year (n=5; 20.8%).In the 3 months periodof
sample collection, between April and June, most infections were detected in the
month of April followed by May and June respectively.Male patients had
slightly more (n=13; 54.2%) infections than females . PCR and sequencing
results confirmed this study’s isolates to a range of 90-99% to other similar
enterovirusesin GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis of this study’s isolates gave
bootstrap values ranging from 36%-87% when compared to other enteroviruses
in the GenBank. In conclusion, the detection of these virusessuggests
theinvolvement of enteroviruses in paediatrics in Kenya.
