[Antigenic variant of ECHO 14, the causative agent of acute serous meningitis].

The study covered 184 children with aseptic meningitis and 248 healthy subjects as controls. The etiological role of 3 enterovirus serotypes: ECHO-14, ECHO-6, and Coxsackie A9 in the development of the diseases in Leningrad in 1974 was substantiated. The antigenic variant ECHO-14 with the "Prime" characteristics was first detected and documented as the causative agent of acute aseptic meningitis. A direct correlation between the predominant strains and the levels of immunity to them in the population was demonstrated. The appearance of a new causative agent and the lack of immunity to it are discussed as possible reasons for the increase in the incidence.