An Overview of the Characteristics, Pathogenesis, Epidemiology, and Detection of Human Enterovirus in the Arabian Gulf Region

Abstract

Enteroviruses are RNA viruses that initiate infections through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and are associated with enteric illness in individuals of all ages. Most serious infections of enteroviruses are in infants and young children where it is the common cause of aseptic meningitis and other systemic diseases, leading to a high mortality rate. Enteroviruses belong to the small non-enveloped family of the Picornaviridae family. The virus can spread mainly through fecal–oral and respiratory routes. In the Arabian Gulf countries, the incidence of enteroviral infections is only restricted to a few reports, and thus, knowledge of the epidemiology, characteristics, and pathogenesis of the virus in the gulf countries remains scarce. In this minireview, we sought to provide an overview of the characteristics of enterovirus and its pathogenesis, in addition to gathering the reports of enterovirus infection prevalence in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. We also present a summary of the common methods used in its detection.