Echovirus 14 Infection Associated With Fatal Neonatal Hepatic Necrosis

Echovirus 14 was isolated from the liver of a newborn infant with fatal hepatic necrosis. It appeared likely that the infection was acquired in utero. Ultrastructurally, the findings in the liver cells were consistent with a viral infection. In cell cultures the viral isolate was found to produce crystalline inclusions in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Negative stained virions measured approximately 30.3 mμ in diameter. To our knowledge, the electron microscopy of echovirus 14 has not been previously reported.