Key result
Enterovirus was detected in 61.8% of 55 EV/RV-positive pediatric respiratory samples, with EV-D68 being the most prevalent genotype.
Why the study?
Following reports of increased EV-D68 infections after the withdrawal of SARS-CoV-2 preventive measures, surveillance was implemented to evaluate the incidence of enterovirus/rhinovirus infections.
Observational (n=55)
No
Genomic surveillance identified EV-D68 (lineages A2 and B3) as the most prevalent enterovirus genotype among pediatric patients in Brescia, Italy, between August and November 2024.
Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is responsible for a plethora of clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic infections to severe respiratory symptoms and neurological disorders. EV-D68 was first detected in children with pneumonia in 1962 and, from then, only sporadic cases were reported until 2014, when outbreaks were notified across the world. After the withdrawal of preventive measures against SARS-CoV-2, a significant increase in EV-D68 infections has been reported in 2021-2022. A surveillance program to evaluate the incidence of enterovirus/rhinovirus (EV/RV) infections was implemented at the Brescia Civic Hospital, Italy. Fifty-five EV/RV-positive respiratory samples, belonging to pediatric patients, were subjected to NGS. We observed that 61.8% of samples were positive for EV, with EV-D68 as the most prevalent genotype predominantly detected between August and November 2024. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that EV-D68 sequences formed two monophyletic clades corresponding to the A2 and B3 lineages, highlighting their recent introduction in Italy. Interestingly, 40% of pediatric EV-D68 infections were detected with at least one other EV/RV. Our study highlights the crucial role played by genomic surveillance of respiratory infections to monitor the circulation of emerging and re-emerging viruses, as well as their evolution. This will be fundamental to enable prompt intervention strategies.
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Messali et al. (2025) conducted an observational in Enterovirus D68 infection (n=55). Enterovirus D68 was evaluated on Enterovirus positivity among EV/RV-positive samples. Enterovirus was detected in 61.8% of 55 EV/RV-positive pediatric respiratory samples, with EV-D68 being the most prevalent genotype.
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