Tissue Culture Isolation of Coxsackie Group B Viruses in Aseptic Meningitis

It has become well established during recent years that Coxsackie group A viruses are the cause of herpangina and that group B strains are the etiological agents in epidemic pleurodynia (Bornholm disease). 1 The relationship of Coxsackie viruses to infections of the central nervous system is, however, much less certain. In many instances Coxsackie viruses have been isolated from the stools of patients shown to have poliomyelitis. Further, Coxsackie viruses are so widespread in nature that, despite isolation of these viruses from stool specimens and a rising titer of antibodies, it has been difficult to rule out the possibility that these agents were merely causing subclinical infections in patients with other diseases. On the other hand, persuasive evidence in favor of the etiological role of Coxsackie viruses in aseptic meningitis has been accumulated. 2 Particularly important is the fact that Coxsackie viruses have been isolated from the spinal fluid by