Adenoviruses of man and animals

Adenoviruses are capable of causing natural infections in a wide variety of vertebrates, including amphibia, birds and mammals. Although frequently causing inapparent infections, they may be associated with diseases of varying severity and localizations. The clinico-pathological manifestations most commonly associated with adenovirus infections involve the respiratory tract and the ocular conjunctiva. Involvement of the digestive, renal and nervous systems may also be observed. A state of latency with persistence of infection for prolonged periods has been described in many hosts. Many adenovirus types are oncogemic under experimental conditions but none have been associated with naturally occurring tumours. Although the diseases caused by adenoviruses tend to be mild, this is not invariably the case and these viruses may give rise to serious epidemiological situations and represent a threat to life under certain circumstances in which the use of prophylactic vaccination may be indicated.