Adenovirus

Question 1

Human adenoviruses are divided into six species (A-F). Individual serotypes are designated numerically (e.g., Ad5, Ad7). Clinical syndromes are associated with specific serotypes, although there is wide geographic and temporal variation in strains resulting in outbreaks of adenovirus infection.

What is nuclear material?

Answer 1

dsDNA

Question 2

How does adenovirus spread?

Answer 2

Droplet transmission

Question 3

What clinical disease can adenovirus cause?

Answer 3

Conjunctivitis - Ad3 and Ad7

Haemorrhagic cystitis

GI disease - diarrhoea Ad40/Ad41 cause outbreaks

Hepatitis

Pneumonia - interstitial

Meningoencephalitis

Usually mild and self-limiting illness. If immunocompromised/ transplant can cause significant disease and may require treatment

Question 4

How to diagnose adenovirus infection?

Answer 4

PCR of respiratory samples/ CSF/ blood - viral load

Antibody testing

Antigen testing - stool

Question 5

What are treatment options for adenovirus infection?

Only treat immunocompromised/ transplant patients as treatment not much evidence

Answer 5

Cidofovir - acyclic nucleoside analog, inhibits adenoviral DNA polymerase and causes termination of DNA synthesis

5mg/kg given once weekly is the recommended dosage for invasive and disseminated disease

Reduce dose if renal impairment

Monitor viral loads to guide treatment

Reduce immunosuppression

Question 6

What age of patients are primarily infected?

Answer 6

Children - usually self limiting illness.
Children usually aged <3

Ubiquitous in population