Rhinovirus infections P . G . HIGGINS

The rhinoviruses were the most recently described agents to be sought in the MRC/PHLS studies. Not until 1960 was a practical routine method for their detection described (Tyrrell & Parsons, 1960) with the result that, at the commencement of the studies in October 1964, few reports were available based on a substantial number of isolates. However, rhinoviruses had been shown to be associated with naturally occurring respiratory infections (e.g. Kendall, Bynoe & Tyrrell, 1962) and there was evidence suggesting they might be the commonest agents to be isolated from such illnesses in the general population (Higgins, Boston & Ellis, 1964). During a collaborative survey of acute infections of the respiratory tract (MRC, 1965) which immediately preceded the present studies, seventyeight rhinoviruses were isolated and only enteroviruses (ninety-three) and adenoviruses (eighty-six) were encountered with greater frequency.The rhinoviruses were shown to be present at all seasons and, while commonly being isolated from patients with a common cold, they were also found in a small proportion of patients diagnosed as suffering from other forms of respiratory illness.