ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the genetic characterization of enterovirus type71 (EV71) associated with hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) epidemics in Jilin province, during 2009-2010.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Randomly selected 31 representative EV71 strains from the cases of 8 prefectures to amplify and sequences of VP1 genes of EV71 strains, and analyzed with Bioedit and Mega4.0 program.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All representative 31 EV71 strains belong to C4a subgenotype, the homology of nucleotide in VP1 region among the 31 EV71 strains were 94. 5%-100. 0%, and were clustered into 5 transmission chains respectively. 25 strains out of 31 strains were associated with a predominant transmission chain, and circulating in 8 prefectures, while other 6 strains clustered into 4 lineages.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Multiple transmission chains of EV71 C4a subgenotype were co-circulating in Jilin province during 2009-2010, and a predominant transmission chain was circulating in 8 prefectures, associated with HFMD outbreaks of Jilin province.</p>