Monitoring of Circulating Non-Poliomyelitis Enterovirus as a Tool of Control and Forecast of the Epidemiological Situation on Enterovirus Infections in the Republic of Belarus

More than 100 serotypes of non-polio enteroviruses (NPEV) that are pathogenic for humans can cause deseases of different manifestations and severity, being a serious health problem in many countries of the world, including the Republic of Belarus. In this regard, monitoring the causative agents of enterovirus infections (EVI) circulating in the country aiming of early new sero- and genotypes detection has much of significance. This work is dedicated to the analysis of NPEV monitoring results concerning their circulation in the territory of the Republic of Belarus in 2021–2022, data on their spectrum, molecular genetics and molecular epidemiological characteristics of the serotypes, as well as on the registered signs of the incidence of EVI. It was found that NPEV that circulated in the country in 2021–2022 were Coxsackie B3, Coxsackie B5, Coxsackie A9, ECHO 7, ECHO 30 and HEV B80 viruses. The group of Coxsackie B viruses prevailed (57,1%) with the dominance of the Coxsackie B3 serotype (35,7%). Coxsackie B5 and ECHO 30 viruses, which have a high epidemic potential, were manifested by genotypes that were actively circulating in the country in the previous years. It is shown that 2022 was the year of the rise in the incidence of EVI. At the time, the prerequisites for sharp NPEV sirculation increase are unlikely though not impossible in case of new sero- or genotypes of NPEV being found.