Genetic diversity and molecular epidemiology of Coxsackie virus B5 in the Republic of Belarus (2003‒2023)

Coxsackie virus B5 is the most frequently detected enterovirus in Belarus over the past 20 years. Its dominance was accompanied by a significant genetic diversity: 12 genetic variants of the virus belonging to 2 previously identified genogroups and 5 subgenogroups (A1, A3, A4, B1, B2) were identified. Genetic variants of the virus belonging to different genogroups and subgenogroups circulated simultaneously throughout the entire observation period. Genetic variants had 3 main circulation patterns: long-term circulation within the country for 7‒15 years, long-term global circulation with periodic introductions in Belarus, short-term circulation for 1‒3 years followed by extinction. The countries of origin of the most resent common ancestor are China, France, and Belarus (for 8 of 12 studied genovariants, the probability was 89–100 %). The time interval between the divergence of genetic variants from the most recent common ancestor and its detection in the population was 3.1 ± 1.2 years. All amino acid substitutions found in different genetic variants were previously revealed in various strains of the virus circulating in other countries of the world and were described as neutral.
Further enterovirus molecular surveillance will expand our knowledge about the virus concerning evolutionary patterns and general epidemic processes.

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