Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41247396›Full record

ArticleJournal of epidemiology and global health2025

Preliminary Genetic Characterization of Enteroviruses in Pediatric HFMD Cases: First Data from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Abdulsalam O Alsulami, Hessa Awad Al-Sharif, Saddiq Habiballah, Huda Ben Helaby, Ahmad Mohammad Ashshi, Mervat Qutub, Raidan Mohammed Alyazidi, Thamir A Alandijany, Esam I Azhar

Abstract read
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Article in Journal of epidemiology and global health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Abdulsalam O AlsulamiSpecial Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Hessa Awad Al-SharifSpecial Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Saddiq HabiballahDepartment of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Huda Ben HelabySpecial Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmad Mohammad AshshiMyClinic's Laboratory Department, MyClinic's, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Mervat QutubMyClinic's Pediatric Department, MyClinic's, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Raidan Mohammed AlyazidiSpecial Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Thamir A AlandijanySpecial Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Esam I AzharSpecial Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. eazhar@kau.edu.sa.

Funding

Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) at King Abdulaziz University 025/426
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a prevalent contagious viral illness primarily affecting children under five years old globally, with potential for severe complications. It a common pediatric illness primarily caused by enteroviruses (EV), yet data on its epidemiology and viral diversity in Saudi Arabia remain scarce. This study addresses this knowledge gap by providing the first molecular prevalence data for HFMD in Saudi Arabia, aiming to determine the genomic serotypes of enterovirus (EV) infections in pediatric HFMD cases and investigate their association with disease outcome.

methodsThirty-four pediatric patients clinically diagnosed with HFMD in Jeddah between November 2023 and June 2024 were enrolled. Oral and throat swabs were analyzed using real-time RT-PCR using broad-spectrum EV detection and conventional RT-PCR targeting the 5'-noncoding regions, followed by Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis for comprehensive serotype identification.

resultsOf the 34 cases, enteroviruses were detected in 82.35% (28/34) of cases. The majority of cases were male (64.7%) and under six years old (61.67%), with a median age of 4.88 ± 3.19 years. Clinical symptoms predominantly included typical rashes on the head, face, and limbs (96.67%), fever (73.53%), and skin itchiness (58.82%). Sequence analysis based on 5'-NCR identified five EV serotypes: CV-A6 (50%), CV-A16 (35.7%), CV-A10 (7.1%), EV-A71 (3.6%), and CV-A5 (3.6%). CV-A6 was the predominant serotype and detected across all age groups, with the highest subtype diversity in children ≤ 3 years. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Saudi strains were closely related to global isolates, especially from Asia and Europe, suggesting multiple introductions and localized transmission.

conclusionThis pilot study reveals substantial genetic diversity and co-circulation of multiple EV serotypes among HFMD cases in Jeddah. The predominance of CV-A6 aligns with recent global trends, underscoring the need for ongoing molecular surveillance and public health preparedness, including vaccine strategy development targeting emerging serotypes.

Indexed as

EnterovirusHand, Foot and Mouth DiseaseChildChild, PreschoolEnterovirus InfectionsFemaleHumansInfantMalePhylogenyPrevalenceSaudi ArabiaSerogroupEnterovirus (EV) – young childrenHand foot and mouth disease (HFMD)Phylogenetic analysisSaudi arabia

Identifiers

PMID41247396
PMCPMC12623570

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.