Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis virus

Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis virus is a highly contagious picornavirus. The virus is in the family Picornaviridae and causes acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis . Coxsackievirus A24 (CA24) and enterovirus 70 (EV70) have also been linked as the causative agents of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis virus.
This virus was first described in 1969 with reports coming from Ghana. Since the first report of the virus, the infection has been described in numerous other countries, including China, India, Egypt, Cuba, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Pakistan, Thailand, and the United States. An epidemic involving more than 200,000 people was reported as occurring in Brazil in 2006.
Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis virus differs from other viral or bacterial conjunctivitis because of its short incubation period of about 24 hours, short clinical course of about one week, and its association with severe subconjunctival hemorrhages.
Structure
Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis virus is an icosahedral, non-enveloped virus, small (22 to 30 nm) particle. The capsid proteins encase a sense RNA strand consisting of approximately 7,5000 nucleotides. The RNA carries a covalently bound noncapsid viral protein (VPg)) at its 5' end and a polydenylated tail at is 3' end.
Transmission
Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis virus has a very high transmission rate. The virus spreads easily through fecal-oral channels. The rates of Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis virus infection typically are highest where hygiene is deficient.
Virus Identification
In the absence of a specific antiviral therapy, a rapid diagnosis of the causative agent is required to distinguish Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis virus from enteroviruses of other ocular infectious diseases, for which there are active drugs, or to quickly implement proper public health measures to limit the extension of the outbreak. However, virus identification remains difficult and time-consuming. Moreover, virological diagnosis is difficult to implement in developing countries where ACHV has recently become a major problem for public health.
No treatment is available. Management consists of symptomatic treatment while waiting for the disease to run its 5- to 7-day course. Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis almost always resolves without sequelae, having a good visual prognosis. However, corneal microbial superinfection has been reported after treatment with topical steroids and requires appropriate antimicrobial therapy.<ref name=plechaty/>

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