Echovirus

They belong to RNA viruses, in the genus Aphtovirus and contain 33 different serotypes.

Disease
Most diseases will have severe consequences.
 * most infections occur inapparently (without clinical manifestations).
 * about 5% of infections have clinical symptoms: febrile illness, myalgia, exanthems, meningitis, encephalitis, diseases of the respiratory and digestive system, pericarditis, hepatitis, pancreatitis,...

Pathogenesis

 * gate of entry: mainly through food, exceptionally through the respiratory system
 * multiplication in cells
 * hematogenous spread
 * the clinical consequences depend on the place of attachment of the virus and on the individual sensitivity of the individual.
 * the virus is intensively secreted from the infected mucosa.

Diagnostics

 * incubation from nasopharyngeal swabs, from stool, or from cerebrospinal fluid on cell cultures from monkey kidneys, or on mice.
 * serological diagnosis using a neutralization test.

Epidemiology
The source of the virus is an infected person, who is already infectious at the end of the incubation period (3 to 7 days). The disease occurs mainly in summer and early autumn.