Role of Non-Polioviruses in Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP)

Abstract

Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) is a complex syndrome caused by different infectious and non-infectious agents, mostly by Enteroviruseses. Mass vaccination against Polioviruses with Oral Poliovirus Vaccine (OPV), under the supervision of World Health Organization (WHO) has endeavored to eradicate AFP and Poliomyelitis caused by Poliovirus. Although Poliovirus has been eradicated in most countries, the societies have not released of AFP outbreaks, yet. Most researches emphasis on Non-Polio Enteroviruseses (NPEV) as main isolates in AFP affected patients. Because the traditional methods of cell culture and neutralization used in corresponding laboratories cannot detect some of the agents, it is recommended to use more sensitive diagnostic methods, such as Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), for increasing the rate of isolation.