Adenovirdae

Questions

1. Describe the general properties of adenoviruses, including their life cycle?

2. What infections and diseases can be caused by adenoviruses?

3. How would you diagnose adenoviruses?

4. Gastroenteritis is one of the diseases, how does this occur  elaborate?

Adenoviruses are 70nm, DNA, icosahedral non-enveloped viruses that contain penton fibres + knobs. > 40 serotypes have been identified and they all have the same group antigen. They replicate in epithelial cells, and are transmitted via the respiratory system and/or faecal oral route. Common infections from adenoviruses include: respiratory tract infections (i.e.: pharyngitis, acute respiratory disease and pneumonia in infants) + eye infections. Rarely it causes meningoencephalitis and haemorrhagic cytitis. Diagnosis is made via isolating virus in culture and identifying distinctive inclusion bodies within 2-20 days. You can also use serological tests for the group antigen present on every serotype. A rapid latex agglutination test is used for faecal virus. The virus is also said to multiple in the GIT causing adenoviral gastroenteritis (type 40-41-42). Basically it can cause vomiting, watery diarrhoea, and a mild fever. Incubation period is between 8-10 days, and duration of symptoms is usually 9-12 days. Note that adenoviruses are “slow ticking” viruses, meaning they are very persistent.

Category: Microbiology Notes