Diagnosis of group A coxsackieviral infection using polymerase chain reaction

Aims: To examine the relation between enteroviral infection, especially group A coxsackieviral infection, and acute febrile illness over two summers using tissue culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods: Throat swabs were collected from 246 children from June to August 1997 and 1998. Results: Enteroviruses were isolated from 33/246 samples and 35 other viruses were isolated. Enteroviral genomes were detected in 54/178 samples from which no virus was isolated. Of 41 enteroviral genotypes identified by sequence analysis of PCR products, 38 were group A coxsackieviruses, which are usually difficult to isolate using tissue culture. Conclusion: Results indicate that viral detection and identification based on PCR is useful in the diagnosis of group A coxsackieviral infection.