Coxsackievirus-positive cervices in women with febrile illnesses during the third trimester in pregnancy.

Coxsackievirus B5 infection was demonstrated in five of seven third-trimester pregnant women with undifferentiated febrile illnesses or aseptic meningitis. Coxsackievirus B5 was recovered from the cervix and throat in four women and from the rectum in three. No obvious illnesses were evident in the babies. These findings suggest that previously unrecognized cervical enterovirus carriage or infection is common in infected pregnant women in the last trimester and that subsequent neonatal infection at delivery may result.