Twenty nine strains of adenovirus 8 have been isolated over nine years in Strasbourg, France, 22 of which were from one private ophthalmologist. To assess a possible relation between these strains, the DNA of adenovirus was analysed by restriction fragment length polymorphism using eight diVerent enzymes. Among these, three proved discriminant (Xba I, Bgl II, Eco RI) and made it possible to define 13 genotypes diVering from each other by one to three DNA bands. Seven genotypes were unique isolates, while three, representing 16 strains, were isolated over five to eight years. All the genotypes but one were closely related, with 87% homology. All 13 diVered from an adenovirus 8 strain from Lyon (homology 68-76%). This study confirmed the stability of adenovirus 8 in a given population. (J Clin Pathol 1999;52:860-861) Keywords: adenovirus 8; molecular epidemiology; eye isolates Adenovirus 8 is a common cause of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis that may be transmitted by ocular examination apparatus. These infections are without any long term consequences on eye function. The epidemiology of adenoviruses is currently under investigation using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the entire adenovirus genome. This allows identification of genomic variants (genotypes) and analysis of their distribution in time and space.
1-5Methods From 1989 to 1997, 29 strains of adenovirus 8 have been isolated in the virology laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Strasbourg, France. Twenty two strains were from one private ophthalmologist, three from another private specialist, and four from diVerent units of the Strasbourg University Hospital.All the strains were isolated on human diploid fibroblasts, MRC-5, serotyped by seroneutralisation or immunofluorescence with a monoclonal antibody at the time of isolation, and stored at −80°C. For RFLP analysis, viruses were grown on MRC-5 cells. The intracellular viral DNA was extracted according to the method of Shinagawa et al 6 modified by Li et al. 7 Briefly, infected cells were recovered in a 50 ml tube, pelleted (1500 g, 15 minutes, 4°C), and suspended in 1.5 ml of TE buVer (10 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.9). Cells were lysed by 0.01% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) in 1 M NaCl overnight at 4°C. The cellular debris was pelleted (17 500 g, 30 minutes, 4°C) and the virus containing supernatant was extracted with an equal volume of phenol. The phenolic phase was extracted twice with equal volumes of TE buVer, after which 1.5 volumes of 95% ethanol were added to the aqueous phase and left overnight at −20°C. After centrifugation (1500 g, 15 minutes, 4°C) the pellet was suspended in 500 µl of lysis buVer (0.5% SDS, 100 mM NaCl, 50 µg/ml proteinase K) and incubated at 37°C for about one hour. After two successive extractions with equal volumes of phenol and ether, the aqueous phase was incubated with an equal volume of isopropanol overnight at −20°C. After centrifugation (17 000 g, 20 minutes, 4°C), the pellet of purified adenovirus DNA was dissolved in 100 µl of TE buV...