During 1964 and 1965 infections with Coxsackie virus types A4, B1, B2, B4 or B5 were diagnosed in 9 cases of acute pericarditis (2 with myocarditis), 1 of acute myocarditis, 8 of Bornholm disease and 1 of acute chest pain attributed to myocardial ischaemia. Echovirus 6 was isolated from a case of Bornholm disease with antibody response to Coxsackie B1 virus. Echovirus type 25 was isolated from an additional case of acute myocarditis.
During epidemics Coxsackie viruses probably contribute significantly to acute cardiac disease. The virological diagnosis is often difficult to achieve, and it is important to attempt virus isolation from early specimens in addition to testing paired sera.
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