Adenovirus: Epidemiology, Global Spread of Novel Serotypes, and Advances in Treatment and Prevention

Abstract

Adenoviruses (AdVs) are DNA viruses that typically cause mild infections involving the upper or lower respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, or conjunctiva. Rare manifestations of AdV infections include hemorrhagic cystitis, hepatitis, hemorrhagic colitis, pancreatitis, nephritis, or meningoencephalitis. AdV infections are more common in young children, due to lack of humoral immunity. Epidemics of AdV infection may occur in healthy children or adults in closed or crowded settings (particularly military recruits). The disease is more severe and dissemination is more likely in patients with impaired immunity (e.g., organ transplant recipients, human immunodeficiency virus infection). Fatality rates for untreated severe AdV pneumonia or disseminated disease may exceed 50%. More than 50 serotypes of AdV have been identified. Different serotypes display different tissue tropisms that correlate with clinical manifestations of infection. The predominant serotypes circulating at a given time differ among countries or regions, and change over time. Transmission of novel strains between countries or across continents and replacement of dominant viruses by new strains may occur. Treatment of AdV infections is controversial, as prospective, randomized therapeutic trials have not been conducted. Cidofovir is the drug of choice for severe AdV infections, but not all patients require treatment. Live oral vaccines are highly efficacious in reducing the risk of respiratory AdV infection and are in routine use in the military in the United States, but currently are not available to civilians.

<p>Epidemiology of Human Adenoviruses: A 20-Year Retrospective Observational Study in Hospitalized Patients in Bern, Switzerland</p>

“…The predominant HAdV genotypes detected in association with clinical presentation differ among different countries and may change over time. 16 Currently in Switzerland, the knowledge on the molecular epidemiology and clinical presentation of HAdV infection is lacking. This study presents the molecular epidemiology of HAdV and associated clinical findings based on a retrospective observational study from laboratory confirmed HAdV cases collected between 1998 and 2017, at the Institute for Infectious Disease (IFIK), following referral of specimens by clinicians from the largest hospitals and other regional clinics in Bern.…”

Adenovirus associated with acute diarrhea: a case-control study

“…Human adenoviruses (HAdV)belong to the genus Mastadenovirus of family Adenoviridae and consist of 7 species (HAdV-A through HAdV-G) including over 70 serotypes [2]. While different genotypes may cause different clinical features.…”

Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics, and Prognostic Factors of Atopic Children Hospitalised for Adenovirus Infection: A Single Institutional Study in Shenyang, China

“…The diagnosis and treatment of Adv infection was performed according the State Administration of National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China and national guidelines published in 2019 (19). All children received standard treatment for pneumonia, which included supportive care when necessary, invasive or non-invasive ventilation, and antibiotics.…”