Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (690 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
An acute infectious disease of humans, particularly children, caused by any of three serotypes of human poliovirus (poliovirus). Usually the infection is limited to the gastrointestinal tract and nasopharynx, and is often asymptomatic. The central nervous system, primarily the spinal cord, may be affected, leading to rapidly progressive paralysis, coarse fasciculation and hyporeflexia. Motor neurons are primarily affected. Encephalitis may also occur. The virus replicates in the nervous system, and may cause significant neuronal loss, most notably in the spinal cord. A rare related condition, nonpoliovirus poliomyelitis, may result from infections with nonpoliovirus enteroviruses. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp764-5)
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Poliomyelitis Infection; Infection, Poliomyelitis; Infections, Poliomyelitis; Poliomyelitis Infections; Polio; Polios; Epidemic Acute Poliomyelitis; Acute Poliomyelitis, Epidemic.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Myelitis; Enterovirus Infections; Neuromuscular Diseases
- Narrower topics
- Poliomyelitis, Bulbar; Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome
- See also
- Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome
Related concepts
- Poliovirus
- Fasciculation
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 21,104 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Poliomyelitis” (counts retrieved 2026-10-29). 1,140 of them (5.4%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 15,627 records.
Reviews account for 947 records (4.5%) and meta-analyses for 24. Randomized controlled trials number 225 (1.1%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 15,627 |
| 2000-2009 | 2,061 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,276 |
| 2020 onward | 1,140 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 947 | 4.5% |
| Meta-analyses | 24 | 0.1% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 225 | 1.1% |
Method: PubMed query "Poliomyelitis"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-29.
Reading the evidence in infectious diseases
Infectious disease evidence combines microbiology, epidemiology and clinical trials. Laboratory studies identify pathogens and how they cause harm; surveillance and outbreak investigations describe who is affected and how infection spreads; trials establish whether treatments and vaccines work. Results depend on place and time, because pathogens evolve and resistance patterns and population immunity change. Check when and where the data were collected, how cases were defined and how up to date the evidence is.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
Emergence of genetically linked vaccine-originated poliovirus type 2 in the absence of oral polio vaccine, Jerusalem, April to July 2022 [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- We report an emergence and increase in poliovirus type 2 detection via routine wastewater surveillance in three non-overlapping regions in the Jerusalem region, Israel, between April and July 2022.
- Closing excerpt
- This demonstrates the emergence and potential circulation of type 2 VDPV in a high-income country with high vaccine coverage and underscores the importance of routine wastewater surveillance during the polio eradication.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (80 words)
We report an emergence and increase in poliovirus type 2 detection via routine wastewater surveillance in three non-overlapping regions in the Jerusalem region, Israel, between April and July 2022. Sequencing showed genetic linkage among isolates and accumulation of mutations over time, with two isolates defined as vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPV). This demonstrates the emergence and potential circulation of type 2 VDPV in a high-income country with high vaccine coverage and underscores the importance of routine wastewater surveillance during the polio eradication.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 36111556 · DOI · PMC9479469
Cross-Reactive Antibody Responses against Nonpoliovirus Enteroviruses [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Enteroviruses are among the most common human viral pathogens.
- Closing excerpt
- Defining the antigenic relationship among EVs may provide insights into the epidemiology and pathogenesis of enterovirus infections.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (276 words)
Enteroviruses are among the most common human viral pathogens. Infection with members of a subgroup of viruses within this genus, the nonpoliovirus enteroviruses (NPEVs), can result in a broad spectrum of serious illnesses, including acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a polio-like childhood paralysis; neonatal sepsis; aseptic meningitis; myocarditis; and hand-foot-mouth disease. Despite the diverse primary sites of virus infection, including the respiratory and alimentary tracts, and an array of diseases associated with these infections, there is significant genetic and antigenic similarity among NPEVs. This conservation results in the induction of cross-reactive antibodies that are either able to bind and neutralize or bind but not neutralize multiple NPEVs. Using plaque reduction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based binding assays, we define the antigenic relationship among poliovirus and NPEVs, including multiple isolates of EV-D68, EV-A71, EV-D70, EV-94, EV-111, Coxsackievirus A24v, and rhinovirus. The results reveal extensive cross-reactivity among EVs that cannot be predicted from phylogenetic analysis. Determining the immunologic relationship among EVs is critical to understanding the humoral response elicited during homologous and heterologous virus infections. IMPORTANCE Enteroviruses (EVs) are common human pathogens. Although infection with EVs leads to cross-reactive antibodies, the clinical relevance of these antibodies is unclear given the estimated incidence of EV infections in the general population of one per year. The hypothesis that anti-EV cross-reactive antibodies can bind and neutralize heterologous EVs was investigated using polyclonal sera collected from animals immunized with individual EVs. Both binding and neutralization activities against heterologous EVs was observed in these sera, and we speculate that cross-reactive antibodies may modulate infection and disease severity. Defining the antigenic relationship among EVs may provide insights into the epidemiology and pathogenesis of enterovirus infections.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 35038922 · DOI · PMC8764532
Current and next-generation formulation strategies for inactivated polio vaccines to lower costs, increase coverage, and facilitate polio eradication [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Implementation of inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) containing Sabin strains (sIPV) will further enable global polio eradication efforts by improving vaccine safety during use and containment during manufacturing.
- Closing excerpt
- The potential for applying these low-cost formulation development strategies to other vaccines to further improve vaccine access and coverage in LMICs is also discussed.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (149 words)
Implementation of inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) containing Sabin strains (sIPV) will further enable global polio eradication efforts by improving vaccine safety during use and containment during manufacturing. Moreover, sIPV-containing vaccines will lower costs and expand production capacity to facilitate more widespread use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This review focuses on the role of vaccine formulation in these efforts including traditional Salk IPV vaccines and new sIPV-containing dosage forms. The physicochemical properties and stability profiles of poliovirus antigens are described. Formulation approaches to lower costs include developing multidose and combination vaccine formats as well as improving storage stability. Formulation strategies for dose-sparing and enhanced mucosal immunity include employing adjuvants (e.g. aluminum-salt and newer adjuvants) and/or novel delivery systems (e.g. ID administration with microneedle patches). The potential for applying these low-cost formulation development strategies to other vaccines to further improve vaccine access and coverage in LMICs is also discussed.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 36576132 · DOI · PMC9891683
Higher stability of novel live-attenuated oral poliovirus type 2 (nOPV2) despite the emergence of a neurovirulent double recombinant strain in Uganda [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The novel oral poliovirus vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) was developed to reduce the risk of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks by incorporating genetic modifications to enhance genetic stability and reduce reversion to virulence while retaining protection.
- Closing excerpt
- Continued use of nOPV2 and inactivated polio vaccine, combined with robust immunization and monitoring, remains essential for achieving and sustaining global polio eradication.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (185 words)
The novel oral poliovirus vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) was developed to reduce the risk of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks by incorporating genetic modifications to enhance genetic stability and reduce reversion to virulence while retaining protection. Here we report the characterization of 231 nOPV2 isolates from Uganda during a 1-year period following nOPV2 use. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that most isolates retained nOPV2's genetic modifications, with limited mutations in the VP1 region indicating no relevant virus transmission. However, a double recombinant strain identified in a sewage sample lost all key nOPV2 modifications through recombination with enterovirus C strains upstream and downstream of the capsid coding region. This resulted in high neurovirulence comparable to that of wild-type 2 poliovirus. Despite this, the strain did not spread widely, probably due to high vaccination coverage. These findings underscore the enhanced genetic stability of nOPV2 and its reduced risk of reversion compared with Sabin monovalent OPV2 (mOPV2), while highlighting the importance of surveillance to detect rare recombination events. Continued use of nOPV2 and inactivated polio vaccine, combined with robust immunization and monitoring, remains essential for achieving and sustaining global polio eradication.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41555038 · DOI · PMC12872467
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Vaccine-derived polioviruses and the endgame strategy for global polio eradication [5]
- Research article Environmental surveillance for polioviruses in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative [6]
- Research article From emergence to eradication: the epidemiology of poliomyelitis deconstructed [7]
- Research article Polio vaccination: past, present and future [8]
- Research article One hundred years of poliovirus pathogenesis [9]
- Research article Vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis: a review of the epidemiology and estimation of the global burden [10]
References
- Zuckerman NS, Bar-Or I, Sofer D, Bucris E, Morad H, Shulman LM, et al.. Emergence of genetically linked vaccine-originated poliovirus type 2 in the absence of oral polio vaccine, Jerusalem, April to July 2022. . 2022. PMID 36111556 · DOI · PMC9479469
- Rosenfeld AB, Shen EQL, Melendez M, Mishra N, Lipkin WI, Racaniello VR. Cross-Reactive Antibody Responses against Nonpoliovirus Enteroviruses. . 2022. PMID 35038922 · DOI · PMC8764532
- Kumar P, Bird C, Holland D, Joshi SB, Volkin DB. Current and next-generation formulation strategies for inactivated polio vaccines to lower costs, increase coverage, and facilitate polio eradication. . 2022. PMID 36576132 · DOI · PMC9891683
- Tushabe P, Majumdar M, Carlyle S, Shulman L, Ssekagiri A, Joffret ML, et al.. Higher stability of novel live-attenuated oral poliovirus type 2 (nOPV2) despite the emergence of a neurovirulent double recombinant strain in Uganda. . 2026. PMID 41555038 · DOI · PMC12872467
- Kew OM, Sutter RW, de Gourville EM, Dowdle WR, Pallansch MA. Vaccine-derived polioviruses and the endgame strategy for global polio eradication. Annu Rev Microbiol. 2005. PMID 16153180 · DOI
- Asghar H, Diop OM, Weldegebriel G, Malik F, Shetty S, El Bassioni L, et al.. Environmental surveillance for polioviruses in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. J Infect Dis. 2014. PMID 25316848 · DOI · PMC10578309
- Nathanson N, Kew OM. From emergence to eradication: the epidemiology of poliomyelitis deconstructed. Am J Epidemiol. 2010. PMID 20978089 · DOI · PMC2991634
- Bandyopadhyay AS, Garon J, Seib K, Orenstein WA. Polio vaccination: past, present and future. Future Microbiol. 2015. PMID 25824845 · DOI
- Racaniello VR. One hundred years of poliovirus pathogenesis. Virology. 2006. PMID 16364730 · DOI
- Platt LR, Estívariz CF, Sutter RW. Vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis: a review of the epidemiology and estimation of the global burden. J Infect Dis. 2014. PMID 25316859 · DOI · PMC10424844
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-29.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.