Isolation from Man of “Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus-like” Viruses (Coronaviruses) similar to 229E Virus, with Some Epidemiological Observations

• Published in: The Journal of Infectious Diseases 1969-03, Vol.119 (3), p.282-290
• Main Authors: Kapikian, Albert Z., James, Harvey D., Kelly, Sara J., Dees, Jane H., Turner, Horace C., McIntosh, Kenneth, Kim, Hyun Wha, Parrott, Robert H., Vincent, Monroe M., Chanock, Robert M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Animals; Antibodies; Antibodies - analysis; Chloroform - pharmacology; Complement Fixation Tests; Culture Techniques; Deoxyuridine - pharmacology; Diseases; Embryo, Mammalian; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Infections; Mice; Microscopy, Electron; Neutralization Tests; Nucleic Acids - analysis; Organ culture techniques; Original; Original Articles; Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Infections - immunology; Respiratory Tract Infections - microbiology; Rhinovirus; RNA Viruses - analysis; RNA Viruses - drug effects; RNA Viruses - isolation & purification; RNA Viruses - pathogenicity; Seasons; Specimens; Tissue culture techniques; Viral morphology; Virus Cultivation; Virus Diseases - epidemiology; Virus Diseases - etiology; Virus Diseases - immunology; Virus Replication - drug effects; Viruses; Viruses, Unclassified - analysis; Viruses, Unclassified - drug effects; Viruses, Unclassified - isolation & purification; Viruses, Unclassified - pathogenicity
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/119.3.282

Nine virus strains resembling "IBV-like" virus 229E of Hamre were recovered in human fetal intestine fibroblast cultures from nasopharyngeal washings of adults with acute upper respiratory tract disease. Eight of the 9 virus-positive individuals developed serologic (CF) evidence of 229E virus infection. The virus isolates exhibited properties typical of the "IBV-like" virus group: distinctive morphology, resistance to 5-IUDR, and chloroform sensitivity. Measurement of CF antibody response was found to be approximately twice as sensitive as virus recovery for detection of infection. Standard monolayer tissue cultures as well as human fetal tracheal O.C. were ineffective for recovery and recognition of the 229E related isolates. A seroepidemiologic survey indicated that 229E virus infection was rare in children with lower respiratory tract disease. However, such infection occurred in 10%-24% of adults with upper respiratory tract illnesses during 2 of 4 winters—a season when rhinovirus infection was uncommon but respiratory disease morbidity was high.