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. 2018 Jul:104:16-22.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2018.04.012. Epub 2018 Apr 21.

Molecular epidemiology of human adenovirus infections in Denmark, 2011-2016

Céline Barnadas  1 , Dennis Jelsbak Schmidt  2 , Thea K Fischer  3 , Jannik Fonager  4
Affiliations

Molecular epidemiology of human adenovirus infections in Denmark, 2011-2016

Céline Barnadas et al. J Clin Virol. 2018 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) can cause respiratory tract infections, conjunctivitis, diarrhoea and outbreaks have been reported. However, little is known about the disease burden and the molecular epidemiology of HAdV.

Objectives: To retrospectively perform a molecular characterization of HAdV positive samples received at Statens Serum Institut during the period 2011-2016 and to compare this with demographic information, geographic location, sample collection date and type and co-infection with other viral pathogens.

Study design: 152 HAdV positive samples were genotyped by Sanger sequencing of a fragment of the hexon gene using published primers along with a newly developed primer set for enhanced genotyping of HAdV D. Phylogenetic analysis was used for genotyping and genotypes were compared with epidemiological information. In addition, HAdV burden and co-infection was evaluated for samples tested in laboratory analysis packages.

Results: Six out of seven HAdV species were identified and represented by 13 types. Young children (<5 years old) were more likely to be positive for HAdV and co-infections with other gastrointestinal or respiratory viruses were common. Possible outbreaks of ocular infections due to HAdV D could not be confirmed.

Conclusion: A diverse set of HAdV species were circulating in Denmark in the study period and although possible transmission clusters were identified, this could not be verified with current genotyping methods Young children were commonly affected by HAdV infection and co-infections with other viral pathogens were frequent suggesting a possible underestimation of the real HAdV burden.

Keywords: Gastroenteritis virus; Human adenovirus; Molecular epidemiology; Phylogeny; Respiratory virus.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Phylogenetic analysis of HAdV hexon partial sequences. Scale: nucleotide substitutions per site. Danish isolates are annotated with the type of sample that was collected. Bootstrap values for the main branches are indicated on the tree.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Subtrees for HAdV sequences belonging to species A, B, C and F based on the analysis of HAdV hexon partial sequences. Scale: nucleotide substitutions per site. Danish isolates are annotated by sample collection years and region of origin. Genbank sequences have no color bars. Bootstrap values for the main branches are indicated on the tree.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Phylogenetic analysis of HAdV species D using a long fragment of the hexon gene. Scale: nucleotide substitutions per site. Danish isolates are annotated by sample collection years and region of origin. Genbank sequences have no color bars. Bootstrap values for the main branches are indicated on the tree.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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