STUDIES OF COXSACKIE VIRUSES LABORATORY ASPECTS OF GROUP A VIRUSES1

Abstract

One hundred and eighty-six virus isolation were obtained from 2,780 human specimens, mainly feces, collected during etiological investigations of illnesses and epidemiological surveys of the populations of selected communities and hospitals. These isolations were classified into 7 immunologically distinct types, all falling within the A group of Coxsackie viruses. Some of the biological attributes of these viruses have been presented. The majority of paired serum specimens from patients ill with herpangina demonstrated the development of type-specific rises in neutralizing antibodies against the immunologic prototype of the viruses isolated from the feces. The materials and methods used for the isolation, identification and immunological classification of group A Coxsackie viruses have been presented and discussed.