Rhinoviruses Associated With Common Colds in a Student Population

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Abstract
A total of 111 specimens obtained from 105 college and medical students with upper-respiratory-tract infections were studied during the 1963 to 1964 school year. Twenty-two viral agents were isolated (20%), including 19 rhinoviruses, one adenovirus, and two herpes simplex viruses. Four new rhinovirus serotypes were isolated using a newly introduced cell line obtained from tissue cultures of human aorta. The "common cold" syndrome with mild sore throat, rhinorrhea, cough, and malaise was seen in students from whom rhinoviruses and herpesviruses were isolated. A more severe picture with marked sore throat, cervical adenopathy, conjunctivitis, and high fever was seen in the student who yielded the adenovirus. All available paired sera showed a rise in antibody titer to the homologous virus. Rhinoviruses belonging to different serotypes were found throughout the six-month period of October through March, but a given serotype was found during short periods of four to six weeks.