title: Molecular identification of adenovirus causing respiratory tract infection in pediatric patients at the University of Malaya Medical Center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are at least 51 adenovirus serotypes (AdV) known to cause human infections. The prevalence of the different human AdV (HAdV) serotypes varies among different regions. Presently, there are no reports of the prevalent HAdV types found in Malaysia. The present study was undertaken to identify the HAdV types associated primarily with respiratory tract infections (RTI) of young children in Malaysia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Archived HAdV isolates from pediatric patients with RTI seen at the University of Malaya Medical Center (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 1999 to 2005 were used. Virus isolates were inoculated into cell culture and DNA was extracted when cells showed significant cytopathic effects. AdV partial hexon gene was amplified and the sequences together with other known HAdV hexon gene sequences were used to build phylogenetic trees. Identification of HAdV types found among young children in Malaysia was inferred from the phylograms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At least 2,583 pediatric patients with RTI sought consultation and treatment at the UMMC from 1999 to 2005. Among these patients, 48 (< 2%) were positive for HAdV infections. Twenty-seven isolates were recovered and used for the present study. Nineteen of the 27 (approximately 70%) isolates belonged to HAdV species C (HAdV-C) and six (approximately 22%) were of HAdV species B (HAdV-B). Among the HAdV-C species, 14 (approximately 74%) of them were identified as HAdV type 1 (HAdV-1) and HAdV type 2 (HAdV-2), and among the HAdV-B species, HAdV type 3 (HAdV-3) was the most common serotype identified. HAdV-C species also was isolated from throat and rectal swabs of children with hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). Two isolates were identified as corresponding to HAdV-F species from a child with HFMD and a patient with intestinal obstruction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HAdV-1 and HAdV-2 were the most common HAdV isolated from pediatric patients who sought treatment for RTI at the UMMC from 1999 to 2005. HAdV-B, mainly HAdV-3, was recovered from approximately 22% of the patients. These findings provide a benchmark for future studies on the prevalence and epidemiology of HAdV types in Malaysia and in the region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Center 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Juraina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abd-Jamil
authors.forename: Boon-Teong
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Teoh
authors.forename: Eddy H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Nuruliza
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roslan
authors.forename: Sazaly
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abubakar
mesh_terms: D000258:Adenovirus Infections, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012703:Serotyping