title: Specific detection of Coxsackie viruses A by the polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most of the Coxsackie virus A strains are difficult to identify using traditional diagnostic methods such as virus isolation followed by neutralization with type-specific antisera. For the laboratory diagnoses of infections with Coxsackie viruses A, inoculation into newborn mice has traditional been the method of choice. However, such investigations are complicated and time-consuming.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop a reverse transcriptase (RT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for specific detection of Coxsackie viruses A.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 43 clinical specimens containing Coxsackie viruses A, B or echoviruses were investigated retrospectively. Nineteen samples were Coxsackie virus A positive, whereas 24 samples were positive for Coxsackie viruses B or echoviruses. Thirteen non-typable specimens from eight patients were also included, since they were characterized as enterovirus-like by electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the specimens containing Coxsackie virus A were positive with the Coxsackie virus A PCR assay. In addition, five out of eight samples characterized as enterovirus-like by electron microscopy were PCR positive. The PCR assay did not amplify Coxsackie viruses B or echoviruses identified in our laboratory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The RT-PCR protocol established here should provide a useful alternative to the complicated and time-consuming diagnostic method based on live animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Gjøen
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bruu
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D029822:Enterovirus B, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral