Enterovirus isolation from foetal and placental tissues.

Four spontaneous abortions and two stillbirth occurred during a prospective survey following the teratogenicity of echoviruses in 80 pregnant women selected at random from the Antenatal Care Service. Echovirus types 19, 27, and 33. Coxsackie B2 and B6 were isolated from placental and foetal tissues (brain, liver, kidney, heart, and spleen). The mothers also excreted the virus by faeces at least twenty days before abortion and responded serologically, indicating active virus infection. Almost all aborted children were anomalous with signs of viral infection.