Epidemiologic features and virus isolation of enteroviruses in Northern Taiwan during 2000-2008.

The susceptibility of five cell lines, RD, MRC-5, MK-2, Hep-2 and A549, for various serotypes of human enteroviruses was evaluated. RD cells were susceptible to most serotypes of enteroviruses, especially for human enterovirus A. Consequently, a high prevalence of human enterovirus A in Taiwan may reflect the relative importance of RD cells in the clinical virology laboratory. However, susceptibilities of RD cells to coxsackievirus A9 and A24, and echovirus 9 and 11 were exceptionally low. Alternatively, MRC-5 or MK-2 cells can improve the isolation of these four enteroviruses. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.