ECHO Virus Type 22 Infection in a Premature Infant

Abstract

ECHO 22 virus was isolated from fecal specimens of 20 out of 29 premature infants in 1964, and was again isolated from 9 out of 36 infants during 1966 and 1967 in the same premature nursery. The infants discharging ECHO 22 virus were asymptomatic or of slight symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection and of mild diarrhea. The sero-immunity against ECHO 22 virus in children in the same district revealed that about half the infants under 6 months of age had positive neutralizing antibody against ECHO 22 virus, and almost all children over a year of age had positive antibody. The evidence of transplacental infection due to ECHO 22 virus was not obtained. ECHO 22 virus in premature infants would probably be transmitted from infants to infants. The source of infection was not determined. © 1970, Tohoku University Medical Press. All rights reserved.