Recombinant type Human mastadenovirus D85 associated with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis since 2015 in Japan

Abstract

The aim of this study was to report the emergence of a recombinant human mastadenovirus (HAdV) type 85 (HAdV-85) and to describe its genomic and clinical characteristics. The strains were detected and identified in Japan in cases of adenoviral conjunctivitis including epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC). The type was designated as HAdV-85 based on the novel combination of penton base (P = HAdV-37), hexon (H = HAdV-19), and fiber (F = HAdV-8). The whole genome sequence determined for HAdV-85 was compared against sequences of other types in the same species. The results of the phylogenetic analysis suggested a recombinant origin between HAdV-53 and HAdV-64, which have been two major causes of adenoviral EKC in Japan over the past decade. During the period between 2008 and 2016 in Kumamoto city, southwest of Japan, 311 cases diagnosed with conjunctivitis were diagnosed as being the consequence of adenoviral infections. Among them, 11 cases were determined to have been caused by HAdV-85 since 2015. Thus, HAdV-85 could be an emerging causative agent of adenoviral conjunctivitis.

Evaluation of a silver‐amplified immunochromatography kit for adenoviral conjunctivitis

“…Adenovirus 81 is a type reported as a novel complex recombinant form of type 48‐related human adenovirus species D and designated as adenovirus 81 by the Human Adenovirus Working Group . Adenovirus 85 is a recently isolated type that is associated with conjunctivitis …”

“…17 Adenovirus 85 is a recently isolated type that is associated with conjunctivitis. 18 The 15 adenoviruses tested in this study include all the conjunctivitisrelated types in Japan.…”

Genomic foundations of evolution and ocular pathogenesis in human adenovirus species D

“…Using HAdV‐D8 and D37 as paradigm EKC pathogens, it was suggested that a lysine or alanine at amino acid 240 was necessary for corneal epithelial tropism ; HAdV‐D56 (and D9) has an alanine at this site. Real‐world confirmation of the association between the HAdV‐D8 and D37 fiber knobs and corneal tropism derives from analysis of HAdV‐D85 , a recently characterized virus that caused EKC, and HAdV‐D82, which was suggested to be an emerging EKC pathogen in one report . Remarkably, HAdV‐D85 has the fiber gene of D8, while HAdV‐D82 has the fiber gene of D37.…”

Conjunctivitis Due to the Human Adenovirus Type 2 Variant Identified during Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis Surveillance in Japan

“…EKC is mainly caused by HAdV-8, HAdV-37, HAdV-53, HAdV-54, HAdV-56, and HAdV-64 (previously known as 19a), all of which are HAdV-D types. Recently, a new HAdV-D type, HAdV-85, was reported as a candidate variant associated with EKC (1). EKC is a contagious conjunctivitis associated with community-acquired infection, with more than 500,000 EKC cases reported annually by the National Surveillance Center in an endemic year.…”