Characterisation of gastroenteritis-associated adenoviruses in South Africa

Objective. To analyse adenovirus (Ad) numbers and types associated with paediatric gastro-enteritis in South Africa. Setting. Gauteng, 1994-1996. Methods. A total of 234 paediatric diarrhoeal stool samples were screened for Ad using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Adenoviral isolates were typed, where possible, using restriction enzyme analysis. Results. Ad was detected in 23 (9.8%) specimens, of which 8 (34.8%) were found by subgroup F-specific ELISA to contain Ad40 or 41. Six of these isolates were typed and 2 could not be typed. Of the remaining 15 specimens, 2 isolates had restriction profiles that did not correspond with known Ads, while 2 were identified as Ad31 and as a subgroup C Ad. The remaining 10 specimens negative for Ad40/41 were non-cultivable and could not be typed. Conclusions. The high percentage of non-cultivable Ads other than Ad40/41 is unusual, and may possibly indicate the prevalence of hexon variants of Ad40/41 or of emerging Ad types in South Africa.