Genomic analysis of adenovirus isolated from Argentinian children with acute lower respiratory infections.
BACKGROUND
Adenoviruses are the second cause of acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) of viral origin in small children from Buenos Aires, Argentina.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to characterize, by restriction enzyme analysis, 17 adenovirus strains isolated from the nasopharyngeal aspirates of children under 2 years of age hospitalized due to ALRI.


METHODS
Seventeen adenovirus strains isolated between May 1991 and December 1992 in one hospital of Buenos Aires were studied. Adenoviruses were amplified in HEp-2 cells and viral DNA was studied with the restriction enzymes Bam HI and Sma I.


CONCLUSIONS
Eighty two percent (14/17) of the isolates were classified as adenoviruses from subgenus b and 17.7% (3/17) belonged to subgenus c. Genome type 7 h was detected in 85.7% (12/14) and 7 i in 14.3% (2/14) of the strains from subgenus b. The case lethality associated with adenovirus genome type 7 was 28.6% (4/14 cases). Three fatal cases corresponded to Ad 7 h and one to Ad 7i. Ad 7h shows a high prevalence in small children hospitalized with ALRI and is associated with a high fatality rate.
Videla
C
C
Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas N. Quirno, Laboratorio de Virología, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Carballal
G
G
Kajon
A
A
D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001118:Argentina; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000821:virology; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology*
D004279:DNA, Viral