Seroprevalence of EV-A71 and EV-D68 antibodies in the paediatric and adolescent population, France, 2023 to 2025

@article{chabrolles2026seroprevalence,
  title = {{Seroprevalence of EV-A71 and EV-D68 antibodies in the paediatric and adolescent population, France, 2023 to 2025}},
  author = {Hélène Chabrolles and Audrey Mirand and Benoît Visseaux and Marie Louchet-Ducoroy and Sonia Burrel and Mathilde Gay and Eline Brémond and Cyril Debuysschere and Mouna Lazrek and Marion Jeannoel and Isabelle Schuffenecker and Léa Luciani and Véronique Venard and Evelyne Schvoerer and Céline Bressollette-Bodin and Audrey Rodallec and Elyanne Gault and Laurent Andreoletti and Thibault Tromeur and Juliette Besombes and Marie Gueudin and Pauline Trémeaux and Sébastien Lhomme and Stéphanie Marque-Juillet and Céline Lambert and Maxime Bisseux and Jean-Luc Bailly and Cécile Henquell},
  journal = {Eurosurveillance},
  year = {2026},
  month = nov,
  doi = {10.2807/1560-7917.es.2026.31.44.2600054},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.es.2026.31.44.2600054},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Seroprevalence of EV-A71 and EV-D68 antibodies in the paediatric and adolescent population, France, 2023 to 2025
AU  - Hélène Chabrolles
AU  - Audrey Mirand
AU  - Benoît Visseaux
AU  - Marie Louchet-Ducoroy
AU  - Sonia Burrel
AU  - Mathilde Gay
AU  - Eline Brémond
AU  - Cyril Debuysschere
AU  - Mouna Lazrek
AU  - Marion Jeannoel
AU  - Isabelle Schuffenecker
AU  - Léa Luciani
AU  - Véronique Venard
AU  - Evelyne Schvoerer
AU  - Céline Bressollette-Bodin
AU  - Audrey Rodallec
AU  - Elyanne Gault
AU  - Laurent Andreoletti
AU  - Thibault Tromeur
AU  - Juliette Besombes
AU  - Marie Gueudin
AU  - Pauline Trémeaux
AU  - Sébastien Lhomme
AU  - Stéphanie Marque-Juillet
AU  - Céline Lambert
AU  - Maxime Bisseux
AU  - Jean-Luc Bailly
AU  - Cécile Henquell
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/05
JO  - Eurosurveillance
DO  - 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2026.31.44.2600054
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.es.2026.31.44.2600054
AB  - BACKGROUND: Enteroviruses (EV)-A71 and EV-D68 are potentially associated with severe clinical conditions, especially in infants and young children. Population susceptibility to these viruses is unknown in France.  AIM: We sought to estimate seroprevalence of EV-A71 and EV-D68 neutralising antibodies (nAbs) among children and adolescents living in France.  METHODS: A stratified sampling approach based on sex, age and geographical area of residence was applied to obtain sera for routine diagnostic from ˂ 18-year-olds in metropolitan France. A total of 501 serum samples collected between 2023 and 2025 from 0–17-year-olds were included in the investigation. Neutralising activity was tested against EV-A71 sub-genogroup C1 and EV-D68 subclade B3 strains isolated in 2016, allowing to determine seropositivity and nAb titre. Data were analysed overall, by sex, age group and geographical area.  RESULTS: For EV-A71, the overall estimated seroprevalence was 43.7% (95% CI: 39.3−48.2) while for EV-D68 this reached 96.0% (95% CI: 93.9–97.5). No differences according to sex were observed. Unlike EV-D68, EV-A71 seropositivity rate varied significantly by age group (p = 0.002) and area of residence (p < 0.001). Notably, 23 of 25 children aged ˂ 1 year lacked EV-A71 protective antibodies. Concerning nAb titres, significant differences occurred across age groups both for EV-A71 (p = 0.004) and EV-D68 (p < 0.001). The nAb titres appeared as highest in 1 to under-2-year-olds for EV-A71 and 0 to under-1-year-olds for EV-D68.  CONCLUSION: This seroprevalence study in France reveals a high proportion of newborns and infants susceptible to EV-A71 at potential risk of severe disease, contrasting with the high level of immunity against EV-D68 across all paediatric age groups.
SN  - 1025-496X
SN  - 1560-7917
ER  -