OBJECTIVETo investigate the etiology of the outbreak of viral encephalitis in Jinan area in 2003.

METHODSVirus-specific nucleic acid fragments were amplified by random PCR and RT-PCR using specific primers to enterovirus. After sequencing, the gene sequence was handled by the program BLAST for homologous analysis and the software Clustal W 1.82 for multiple sequence alignment to identify the etiology and its genotype.

RESULTSFive strains were isolated from clinical specimens. A gene fragment for one strain was acquired using random PCR, which was highly homologous to enterovirus. Then, the 5' non-translated region and partial VP1 region were amplified and sequenced. The five isolated strains were all identified as Coxsackievirus B5, and what was more, they were most homologous to the strain isolated during the outbreak of aseptic meningitis and encephalitis in Zhejiang province from 2002 to 2004.

CONCLUSIONCoxsackievirus B5 is closely associated with the outbreak of viral encephalitis in Jinan area in 2003. It is an important etiology but other viruses may also played a role which remains to be clarified.