First detection and characterization of EV-A71 and a new genogroup of CVA-24 causing neurological disease in Tunisia: supplementary data

Aim: Molecular characterization of enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) and coxsackievirus A24 (CVA-24) strains

isolated during neurological diseases surveillance activities in Tunisian patients. Materials & methods:

Specimens were obtained from two Tunisian children and analyzed for enterovirus with quantitative

reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). We sequenced the whole genome of strains detected. Results: The

EV-A71 sequence reported was assigned to subgenogroup C2 with a high nucleotide sequence identity

to other EV-A71 C2 detected in other countries, which suggests virus migration. Interestingly, in the VP1

coding region, the Tunisian CV-A24 strain displayed high sequence divergence from other CV-A24, which

confirms that it represents a new genogroup. Conclusion: This is the first report of EV-A71 in Tunisia and

the first report of a CV-A24 strain causing aseptic meningitis.