ECHO virus /ek″ō vī′rəs/ [enteric cytopathogenic human orphan + L, virus, poison] , a picornavirus associated with many clinical syndromes but not identified as the causative organism of any specific disease. ECHO stands for enteric, cytopathic, human, orphan. There are many ECHO viruses. More than 30 serotypes have been identified; many are harmless. Bacterial or viral disease may be complicated by ECHO virus infection, as aseptic meningitis accompanying some severe bacterial and viral infections.
