Adenovirus types 2, 8, and 37 associated with genital infections in patients attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic.
Adenoviruses (Ads) are an important cause of respiratory illness, conjunctivitis, and gastroenteritis, but they are seldom recognized as a potential cause of sexually transmitted disease. We performed virus cultures on approximately 7,000 patients attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic or other health department clinics for the evaluation of genital ulcers, urethritis, or conjunctivitis. Ads were isolated from genital or conjunctival specimens obtained from 23 (0.33%) patients. Among the 20 Ad-positive men, 15 (75%) had urethritis, 12 (60%) had conjunctivitis, and 10 (50%) had both. All three Ad-positive women had vaginal discharge and genital ulcers or fissures. Ad isolates from 17 patients were available for serotyping. Ad type 37 was isolated from 14 patients, Ad type 8 was isolated from 2 patients, and Ad type 2 was isolated from 1 patient. In three of the Ad type 37 cases, Ad was recovered from both urethral and conjunctival specimens. One of the Ad type 8 cases had conjunctivitis, but the Ad type 2 case did not. Ads, particularly type 37, may be a sexually transmissible cause of genital ulcers, urethritis, and conjunctivitis.
Swenson
P D
PD
Seattle-King County Department of Public Health, Washington 98104, USA.
Lowens
M S
MS
Celum
C L
CL
Hierholzer
J C
JC
D000258:Adenovirus Infections, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003236:Conjunctivitis, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052801:Male Urogenital Diseases; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D012703:Serotyping; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014456:Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D014526:Urethritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology