The isolation of enteroviruses from cases of acute conjunctivitis

In two epidemics of acute enterovirus conjunctivitis the diagnosis could only be established by the use of human embryonic organ cultures. In one instance cultures of ciliated respiratory epithelium proved sensitive to the virus but similar culture failed to support growth of the virus from the second outbreak which was isolated in organ cultures of conjunctiva. The virus associated with a third outbreak had previously been isolated from the original material by culture in human embryo kidney cells, but it required passage in organ culture for its detection after the specimens had been diluted.