Propagation and isolation of group A coxsackieviruses in RD cells

The RD cell line, derived from a human rhabdomyosarcoma, supported replication of a number of group A coxsackieviruses, including types A5 and A6 which heretofore have been propagable only in suckling mice. A number of the group A coxsackievirus types which replicated in RD cells had higher titers in this cell line than in other cell culture systems. In tests on a limited number of clinical specimens, RD cells were slightly less sensitive than suckling mice for isolation of group A coxsackieviruses, but they did permit the recovery of certain virus types which previously could be isolated only in suckling mice. Group B coxsackieviruses replicated poorly or not at all in RD cells.