First Detection and Characterization of EV-A71 and a New Genogroup of CVA-24 Causing Neurological Disease in Tunisia

Aim: Molecular characterization of enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) and coxsackievirus A24 (CVA-24) strains isolated during neurological diseases surveillance activities in Tunisian patients. Materials & methods: Specimens were obtained from two Tunisian children and analyzed for enterovirus with quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). We sequenced the whole genome of strains detected. Results: The EV-A71 sequence reported was assigned to subgenogroup C2 with a high nucleotide sequence identity to other EV-A71 C2 detected in other countries, which suggests virus migration. Interestingly, in the VP1 coding region, the Tunisian CV-A24 strain displayed high sequence divergence from other CV-A24, which confirms that it represents a new genogroup. Conclusion: This is the first report of EV-A71 in Tunisia and the first report of a CV-A24 strain causing aseptic meningitis.