Rhinovirus Infection in Nursery and Kindergarten Children. New Rhinovirus Serotype 54

Abstract

Summary

Twenty-six rhmoviruses were recovered from 741 throat specimens (3.5%) taken during acute respiratory illness in the winter and early spring of 1965 from 407 children 3 to 5 years of age who were attending nursery and kindergarten classrooms. No rhinoviruses were isolated from 90 specimens taken from 109 children aged 5 months to 6 years in families. Rhinovirus serotypes 16, 25, 38, 42, 48 and 50 were represented in addition to a new H group serotype which was designated type 54. Types 16, 38 and 54 were most frequently encountered. There appeared to be a clustering of particular sero-types among the contacts in particular schools indicating spread of infection once a virus was introduced. All cases were clinically common cold and only two had mild fever.