An immunofluorescent study of generalized Coxsackie virus B3 infection in a newborn infant.

An autopsy case of a 10-day-old newborn with generalized infection of Coxsackie virus B3 (CBV3) was reported. CBV3 was isolated from the blood before death. The patient died of cardiac failure. An immunofluorescent study was carried out on autopsy specimens fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. CBV3 antigen was detected in the heart, brain, kidney, lungs, spleen, thymus, and pancreas. In the pancreas CBV3 antigen was predominantly seen in the islet cells. No CBV3 antigen was found in the liver and adrenal glands. Electron microscopic examination revealed virion-like particles, 20 nm in diameter, in the endothelial cells of the myocardium.