High-incidence of human adenoviral co-infections in taiwan.
BACKGROUND
Respiratory infections caused by adenovirus (HAdV) are common year round. Recently, a significant increase of adenoviral infections was observed in Taiwan.


OBJECTIVE
To understand the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of respiratory adenovirus circulating in Taiwan for the past decade.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-six human adenoviruses, isolated between 2002 to 2011, were characterized via DNA sequencing of the hexon and fiber genes. The nucleotide sequences were then compared by phylogenetic analysis.


RESULTS
HAdV-B3 accounted for 64.3% (81/126) and peaked almost every year, whereas the sequences of hexon and fiber genes of HAdV-B3 were highly conserved in different years. A high incidence of co-infection of adenoviruses was observed (19.0%, 24/126); HAdV-B3 co-infected with HAdV-C2 was the most common combination (58.3%, 14/24). An additional interesting finding of repeated infection was noted in 10 children, all of whom showed first infection with adenovirus species HAdV-C, followed by species HAdV-B or HAdV-E.


CONCLUSIONS
HAdV-B3 was the predominant type of respiratory adenovirus circulating in Taiwan over the past ten years. This merits further attention for vaccine development. Furthermore, the observed high-incidence of adenoviral co-infections along with repeated infections found in our study provides important epidemiological insights into adenovirus infections.
National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan.
Shan-Li
SL
Wang
Chia-Yu
CY
Chi
Pin-Hwa
PH
Kuo
Huey-Pin
HP
Tsai
Shih-Min
SM
Wang
Ching-Chuan
CC
Liu
Ih-Jen
IJ
Su
Jen-Ren
JR
Wang
D000258:Adenovirus Infections, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000293:Adolescent; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060085:Coinfection; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004279:DNA, Viral; C018315:hexon capsid protein, Adenovirus