title: Description of an adenovirus A31 outbreak in a paediatric haematology unit.
abstract: Adenovirus infections result in significant morbidity and mortality in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplanted (hSCT) children. Adenovirus from species C and B account for more than 90% of adenoviruses recovered after hSCT. However, infections due to adenovirus A31 have been increasingly reported in recent years. Between April 2002 and April 2005, blood samples obtained every 2 weeks from 58 hSCT children were screened for adenovirus species A to C by quantitative real-time PCR. Phylogenetic analysis was realized after amplification and sequencing of the entire hexon gene. Fifteen cases of adenovirus infection with viraemia were recovered during this 3 years period. During spring/summer 2003, seven cases occurred and were due to an adenovirus species A. Phylogenetic analysis of the seven strains showed that they belonged to the A31 genotype and shared 100% homology. Clinical features of the seven HSCT children with A31 adenovirus viraemia are described. We describe here an epidemic spread of adenovirus genotype A31 in a paediatric haematology unit. Timing, location and hexon gene genotyping results highly suggested a nosocomial origin to this epidemic. The burden of adenovirus A31 infection needs to be further assessed in this context.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Virologie, EA 3620 Université Paris V, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades AP-HP, Paris, France. marianne.leruez@nck.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leruez-Ville
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chardin-Ouachée
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neven
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Picard
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Le Guinche
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rouzioux
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blanche
mesh_terms: D000258:Adenovirus Infections, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D005838:Genotype; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010802:Phylogeny; D013045:Species Specificity; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014766:Viremia / Q000821:virology