Specific Detection and Rapid Identification of Human Enteroviruses by PCR Amplification

A nested PCR was developed that allows the specific amplification of enteroviruses as well as rhinoviruses with one set of four primers from the 5’-noncoding region. For rapid identification of the respective serotypes, restriction enzyme (RE) digestion of PCR products was done. Experiments with serotyped isolates showed a sensitivity of 10 genome equivalents or less. RE digestion could predict the serotype correctly in almost all cases investigated, minimizing the need for sequencing of PCR products. Application to clinical samples is demonstrated for cases of aseptic meningitis and other neurological diseases and for myocardial biopsies from experimentally infected animals as well as from patients with dilative cardiomyopathy.