Over 100 known enterovirus serotypes differ in their epidemiological and 
pathogenic properties. Much less is known about variation of these features on a 
sub-serotype level, such as genotypes. Echovirus 11 (E11) and E30 are amongst 
the most frequent causative agents of aseptic meningitis. We studied the 
molecular epidemiology of these pathogens to evaluate potential epidemiological 
and pathogenic dissimilarities of their genotypes. The complete VP1 genome 
region was sequenced for 97 E11 and 62 E30 isolates collected in Russia from 
2008 to 2012, and they were studied in comparison with all 140 E11 and 432 E30 
sequences available in GenBank. A geographic pattern of genotype prevalence was 
observed for both types. Russian E11 isolates belonged mainly to A genotype, 
which is common in Asia, and D5, which is predominant in Europe. For E30, 
genotype III by classification of Ke et al. (2011), also termed genotype a by 
Bailly et al. (2009), was endemic in Russia from 2003 to 2012, while it was not 
detected in Europe and North America during this time. The E30 genotypes VI-B, 
VI-G, and VI-H (e, f and h) were regularly introduced from different countries, 
became predominant and vanished after no more than 4years. In addition to 
geographic patterns, E11 genotypes also differed by isolation source. Genotype 
A2 viruses were significantly more often found in sewage, compared to genotype 
D5 that was isolated from both sewage and human samples. In addition, there was 
evidence of a different capacity for international transfers among E11 GtA 
subclusters.