Abstract
A common receptor for coxsackie B virus and adenovirus has been described recently in cells of human and murine origin. Since the established cell line A‐549 is suitable for adenoviruses, the potential use of A‐549 cells for the isolation of coxsackie B viruses from clinical samples was investigated. All throat swabs sent to the laboratory between April 1998 and June 1999 were inoculated onto monolayers of MRC‐5 and A‐549 cells in tubes, and the enterovirus isolates obtained were typed. From April to June 1999, A‐549 cells were compared prospectively to Buffalo green monkey (BGM) cells, considered as the most susceptible cell line for isolating coxsackie B viruses. Fifty‐six out of 171 enterovirus isolates (33%) displayed a cytopathic effect (CPE) in the A‐549 monolayer only, 48 isolates (28%) in the MRC‐5 monolayer only, and 67 isolates (39%) in both cell lines. Most isolates that showed CPE in A‐549 cells only (48 out of 56, 86%) were coxsackie B viruses, belonging to four different serotypes (B1, B2, B4, and B6). When BGM and A‐549 cells were inoculated in parallel, both recovered the same number of coxsackie B isolates (n = 20), and the CPE was noted on approximately the same day. In conclusion, growth in A‐549 but not MRC‐5 cells identified coxsackie B viruses in most cases. A‐549 was comparable to BGM for primary isolation of coxsackie B viruses. J. Med. Virol. 65:534–536, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.