Α molecular epidemiological analysis of adenoviruses from excess conjunctivitis cases

Abstract

BackgroundΤo perform a molecular epidemiological analysis of viral conjunctivitis among excess conjunctivitis cases recorded at the University Hospital of Patras, Greece, for the period March to June 2012.MethodsA structured questionnaire containing demographic and clinical data was developed in order to collect retrospective data on the cases. Eye swab specimens were collected and molecular detection of adenoviruses was performed by nested PCR. Positive results were confirmed by sequencing. To determine the relatedness between the isolated sequences, a phylogenetic analysis was conducted.ResultsThe epidemiological analysis (including retrospective data) included 231 conjunctivitis cases (47.1% male, and 52.8% female). Based on clinical features 205 of the cases were diagnosed of viral origin (46.3% male and 53.7% female), 4 of bacterial origin (50% male and 50% female) while 22 were undefined conjunctivitis. The outbreak excess cases (included 156 cases) affected all age groups regardless gender predilection. For the positive samples indicated that 29 samples (72.5%) were AdV17, and 5 (12.5%) as AdV54.ConclusionsMolecular analysis could define the cause of viral conjunctivitis, while epidemiological data contributed to the assessment of the risk factors and underlined possible preventive measures. This study is one of the very few on viral conjunctivitis in Greece. This outbreak underscores the need for a national surveillance system for acute infectious conjunctivitis outbreaks. The epidemiological as well as molecular investigation on HAdV ocular infections is rather absent in Greece, which has no surveillance system for viral conjunctivitis.

Clinical and virological analysis of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis caused by adenovirus type 54 in a regional ophthalmic clinic in Kyushu, Japan

“… 1 Outbreaks caused by several adenovirus types have been reported in various eye-care institutions in several countries. 2 – 6 Human adenovirus type 54 (HAdV-54) is a novel type of adenovirus 7 that belongs to species D which causes EKC. 8 – 10 Until recently, it had been detected only in Japan, but it was reported to have been detected in Greece lately.…”

An Outbreak of Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis Caused by Human Adenovirus Type 8 in Primary School, Southwest China

“…In addition, acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) [20][21][22] is caused by enterovirus type 70, human coxsackievirus A24 variant (CVA24v), and HAdV-11. Outbreaks caused by adenovirus types 8, 56, 54 and enteroviruses CVA24v, and EV70 have been reported in China and other countries or regions around the world [6,[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30].…”

An Outbreak of Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis Caused by Human Adenovirus Type 8 in Primary School, Southwest China

“…In recent years, viral conjunctivitis has been the most common form, followed by bacterial conjunctivitis [3,4]; adenovirus es are one of the main causes of viral conjunctivitis. Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are non-enveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] with icosahedral capsids in the family Adenoviridae. The viral particles, which are approximately 65 to 80 nm in size, consist of protein capsids, core proteins and DNA.…”

“…In addition, EKC [18][19][20] is caused by enterovirus type 70, human coxsackievirus A24 variant (CVA24v), and HAdV-11. Outbreaks caused by adenovirus types 8, 56, 54 and enteroviruses CVA24v and EV70 have been reported in China and other countries or regions around the world [6,15,[21][22][23][24][25][26][27].…”