Typing of Human Adenoviruses by Restriction Endonuclease Analysis and Enteric Adenovirus Infection Rate in Children with Gastroenteritis

Enteric adenoviruses (EAd), which are the major causative agents of acute gastroenteritis next to rotavirus in young children, are classified among the endemic group of adenoviruses (Adv) today. In this study, 194 fecal samples obtained from children with acute gastroenteritis admitted to Hacettepe Children Hospital Diarrhea Center were analyzed for the presence of EAd during the period August 1993 to May 1995. Fecal specimens were tested by ELISA with Adv group, type 40 and 41 specific monoclonal antibodies. All fecal specimens were also inoculated into KB and Graham 293 cells. Viral isolates were typed by restriction endonuclease analysis. Adv 40 and Adv 41 were detected 6 (3.1%) and 4 (2.1%) of 15 isolates from all fecal specimens, respectively. ELISA and isolation results have shown high correlation for the detection of Adv and EAd. Of children infected with EAd 90% were under 2 years old. Seasonal EAd isolation rates were not significantly different. These results have shown that Adv 40 and 41 are also important causes of acute viral gastroenteritis in our population. Antigenic and genotypic variants were not detected in enteric adenoviral isolates