MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF WILD POLIOVIRUS TYPE-1 IN EUROPE, THE MIDDLE-EAST, AND THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT

The genomic relationships of wild poliovirus type 1 strains recently i solated in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent was an alyzed by automated amplicon sequencing of the VP1/2A junction region of the genome. four major genotypes of poliovirus type I were found to circulate. Two genotypes were found predominantly in Eastern Europe, one of these in the Caucasian Region and the other in countries border ing the Black Sea. A third genotype circulated mainly in Egypt. The fo urth and largest genotype circulated in the largest geographic area. S trains belonging to this genotype could be found in countries as far a part as Malaysia and Ukraine. Considerable genetic variation was obser ved among strains isolated in Egypt, Pakistan, and India, where poliov irus is endemic. Strains belonging to all four genotypes circulated in Pakistan. Data confirm the extent of poliovirus circulation in certai n regions, stressing the need for intensification of vaccination in th ese regions.