Immunoenzymatic examination of autoptic tissues from the outbreak of fatal infantile disease in Naples, in 1978-1979.

The cronology and findings of the series of infant deaths in Naples, Italy from June 1978 through February 1979 are available from other sources and are accordingly not recapitulated. :is part of the international group uf scientists invited by the Italian Government to participate in the investigations of these deaths, the Lahoratory of Iufectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health, United States of America, conducted an examination of twenty cases of fatal respirarory disease. The specimens were graciously made availahle by Professor Antonio Calì. Inasmuch as respiratory syncytial (RS) virus waa implicated as the major agent associated with the Naples outbreak, we rmployed recently devised immunornzymatic staining techniqurs to examine pulmonary tissues for the presente of RS virus antigen.