title: Outbreak of acute respiratory disease caused by human adenovirus type 7 in a military training camp in Shaanxi, China.
abstract: Outbreaks of ARD associated with HAdV have been reported in military populations in many countries. Here, we report an ARD outbreak caused by HAdV-7 in a military training camp in Shaanxi Province, China, from February to March of 2012. Epidemic data and samples from the patients were collected, and viral nucleotides from samples and viral isolations were detected and sequenced. IgG and IgA antibodies against HAdV, and the neutralization antibodies against the viral strain isolated in this outbreak, were detected. Epidemiological study showed that all personnel affected were males with an average age of 19.1 years. Two peaks appeared on the epicurve and there was an 8-day interval between peaks. Laboratory results of viral nucleotide detection carried out with clinical specimens were positive for HAdV (83.33%, 15/18). Further study through serum antibody assay, virus isolation and phylogenetic analysis showed that HAdV-7 was the etiological agent responsible for the outbreak. IgA antibody began to appear on the 4th day after the onset and showed 100% positivity on the 8th day. The virus strain in the present outbreak was highly similar to the virus isolated in Hanzhong Shaanxi in 2009. We conclude that HAdV-7 was the pathogen corresponding to the outbreak, and this is the first report of an ARD outbreak caused by HAdV-7 in military persons in China. Vaccine development, as well as enhanced epidemiological and virological surveillance of HAdV infections in China should be emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Pengbo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Chaofeng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nawaz
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jianfang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Quanli
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Lixia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qunling
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Jingjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jiru
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D000258:Adenovirus Infections, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000293:Adolescent; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: China; human adenovirus type 7 (HAdV-7); military training camp; outbreak