title: Molecular detection and serotypic analysis of enterovirus RNA in archival specimens from patients with acute myocarditis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether enterovirus RNA can be demonstrated in archival necropsy material in acute myocarditis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of paraffin embedded myocardial tissue from cases of acute myocarditis.
  
  
  METHODS
  University virology department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Extraction of RNA from tissue followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequence analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients with histologically proven myocarditis and eight controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Enterovirus RNA was identified in 5 of 6 patients with myocarditis and in none of the controls. The nucleotide sequences of the PCR products showed greatest similarity to group B coxsackieviruses, particularly coxsackievirus B3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that archival tissue samples, even histologically stained tissue sections, can be used to study the role of enteroviruses in myocardial disease using molecular detection techniques. If a predominant role for coxsackievirus B3 in myocarditis is confirmed by further study, this may have implications for the development of a specific vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, United Medical School, Guy's and St Thomas', (St Thomas' campus) London.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Ajetunmobi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Shackleton
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Starkey
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Illavia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muir
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Banatvala
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001483:Base Sequence; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004769:Enterovirus Infections; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral