Specific primer amplification of the VP1 region directed by 5' UTR sequence analysis: enterovirus testing and identification in clinical samples from hand-foot-and-mouth disease patients.

•Both pan-enterovirus primers (5′ UTR) and EV71/CA16 specific primers were designed.•There was high consistency between the 5′ UTR and VP1 for the typing of EVs causing HFMD.•Samples were detected with serotype-specific VP1 primers based on the results for the 5′ UTRs.•Non-EV71/CA16 EVs related to HFMD can be identified effectively.