Simultaneous detection of adenovirus types 3, 7 and 11 by a multiplex PCR from cell cultured clinical specimens of hospitalized patients

Adenovirus (AD) is classified into A, B, C, D, E and F subgenera on the basis of neutralization, hemagglutination and DNA homology tests. Six AD subgenera have 51 serotypes. We selected AD types 3, 7, and 11 since they are known to frequently cause respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disease and meningitis, which often require hospitalization of the patients. The purpose of this study was to detect and to evaluate the correlation of AD types 3, 7 and 11 and the diseases. The detection method, used for AD types 3, 7 and 11, was a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with HEp-2 cell cultured with clinical samples. The result was as follows: AD 3 (22/62, 35.5%), AD 7 (27/62, 43.5%), and AD 11 (50/62, 80.6%) were detected by the multiplex PCR in 62 clinical samples. AD 3 detection rate in cerebrospinal fluid was relatively higher than in other specimens but its statistical significance was low (p=0.07). AD 11 was detected (50/62, 80.6%) with the highest frequency and appeared to significantly be associated with gastroenteritis, respiratory disease, and meningitis in hospitalized children, and arthritis in adult patients. AD 3, AD 7 and AD 11 types were detected singly in 21/62 (33.9%), doubly in 15/62 (24.2%), and triply in 16/62 (25.8%). The multiplex PCR method using Hep2 cell culture with clinical specimens could detect AD types 3, 7, and 11 in children with meningitis, respiratory infection, or gastroenteritis, and in adults with cancer and arthritis.