INFECTIONS IN 18,000 INFANTS AND CHILDREN IN A CONTROLLED STUDY OF RESPIRATORY TRACT DISEASE .I. ADENOVIRUS PATHOGENICITY IN RELATION TO SEROLOGIC TYPE AND ILLNESS SYNDROME

Brandt, C. D. (Children's Hospital, Wash., D. C. 20009), H. W. Kim, A. J. Vargosko, B. C. Jeffries, J. O. Arrobio, B. Rindge, R. H. Parrott and R. M. Chanock. Infections in 18, 000 infants and children in a controlled study of respiratory tract disease. I. Adenovirus pathogenicity in relation to serologic type and illness syndrome. Amer. J. Epid., 1969, 90: 484-500.-In a controlled study lasting 10 years, 1, 792 adenoviruses were isolated from 18, 096 infants and children. Approximately 34% of the isolates were type 2, 26% type 1, 11% type 5 and 10% type 3. Serotypes 8, 14, 17 and 19 were not identified. Human embryonic kidney was the most sensitive cell culture for the isolation of adenoviruses, and HEp-2 cells were definitely superior to monkey kidney and WI-38 cells. Adenovirus infection was detected more often by recovery of virus from a child than by the demonstration of a CF antibody rise. CF antibody responses occurred in respiratory patients more often than in controls, occurred in those with throat isolates more often than those with anal isolates, and varied in frequency with different serotype. At least 54% of adenovirus isolations from the throat of patients with respiratory tract disease appeared to be causally related to the concurrent illness. Adenovirus types 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 were statistically associated with respiratory disease, most consistently with mild upper respiratory tract disease. By conservative estimate, approximately 7% of the pediatric respiratory tract disease in our study population appeared to be etiologically associated with adenovirus infection. © 1969, by THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY.