Abstract
An epidemic of hand, foot and mouth disease occurred in Hokkaido in the summer of 1970. From 153 patients, 74 fecal samples, 124 throat swabs, and a sample of vesicular fluid were collected. A total of 79 Cox A 16 viruses and 25 unidentified viruses were isolated from them by inoculation into primary monkey kidney cells. In addition 61 Cox A16, 17 Cox A4, 27 Cox A5, 63 Cox A6, and 9 Cox A10 viruses were isolated from them by inoculation into suckling mice.
Of 45 patients from whom both fecal and throat samples had been collected, Cox A 16 was isolated singly from 7 patients, Cox A 16 and some other tipes were in combination from 34 patients, and Cox A viruses other than Cox A 16 were from 3 patients. Cox A 5 (from 2 patients) Cox A 6 (from 3 patients), Cox A 10 (from 2 patients) were regarded as causative a-gents, in addition to Cox A 16.
A rise of antibody against each of these viruses was as follows: Cox A 16 (16.7%), Cox A 5 (16.7%), Cox A 6 (11.4%), Cox A 2 (2.8%), Cox A 4 (2.8%), Cox A 10 (2.8%) when examined in 42 paired sera (of which 7 paired sera were tested only for Cox A 16 and Cox A 5). A simultaneous rise of antibody against 2 types was seen in 4 paired sera.
From virological and serological findings, it was suggested that Cox A 5, Cox A 6, and Cox A 10 viruses might be able to play a role as causative agents in an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease.
