An Epidemiological Study of Enteroviruses as Causative Agents of Aseptic Meningitis between 1993 and 1998 in Korea / 감염

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To investigate the epidemiology of aseptic meningitis in Korea, we have isolated and characterized enteroviruses isolated from patients with acute meningitis from 1993 to 1998. METHODS: Stool and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with aseptic meningitis were inoculated onto enterovirus-susceptible cell lines. The virus propagation was examined by the presence of cytopathic effects and each viral isolate was further characterized using a neutralization test. RESULTS: Out of 1,127 specimens, 197 enteroviral isolates were obtained mostly from stool samples (82.8 %) of children aged zero to ten years. At least 15 serotypes of enteroviruses, including echoviruses (EV) 3, 6, 7, 9, 25 and 30, coxsackieviruses (CV) B1~B6, and vaccine-derived polioviruses (PV) had circulated during the previous 6 years. The major serotypes that caused outbreaks of aseptic meningitis, were EV30 in 1997 and EV6 in 1998. Although the incidence of virus isolation peaked during summer, we had isolated enteroviruses all the year round in 1998. CONCLUSION: Since 1993, we had confirmed 197 cases of enteroviral meningitis. Outbreaks of aseptic meningitis were mainly caused by EVs, with peaks during the summer months. Our data emphasize that the nationwide surveillance of aseptic meningitis should be expanded and maintained throughout the year.