What is the Difference Between Coxsackie A and B?

Coxsackie A and B viruses are both members of the Enterovirus genus, but they differ in their pathogenicity and the tissues they affect. They are divided into group A and group B viruses based on early observations of their pathogenicity in newborn mice.

• Coxsackie A: Group A coxsackieviruses primarily affect skeletal and heart muscle, causing infections such as herpangina, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, and acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. These viruses are responsible for around 90% of infections caused by non-polio enteroviruses, most of which are asymptomatic or result in self-limiting illnesses.
• Coxsackie B: Group B coxsackieviruses are associated with a wide range of tissues, including the central nervous system, liver, exocrine pancreas, and brown fat, in addition to striated muscle. They cause infections such as myocarditis, pericarditis, aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, pleurodynia, and hepatitis. Coxsackie B viruses are more likely to cause cardiovascular complications and aseptic meningitis/encephalitis cases.

In general, most Coxsackie infections are asymptomatic and self-limiting, and the majority of the cases are mild illnesses. However, certain Coxsackie viruses can cause more severe complications, especially when infecting newborns or individuals with weakened immune systems.

Comparative Table: Coxsackie A vs B

Coxsackie A and B viruses are both members of the enterovirus group, which is part of the Picornaviridae family. They share some similarities but also have distinct characteristics. Here is a table summarizing the differences between Coxsackie A and B viruses:

While both Coxsackie A and B viruses share some common features, such as their virus structure and RNA clustering, they differ in the number of serotypes, clinical features, and their association with certain diseases.