Immunofluorescent detection of adenovirus antigen in epidemic keratoconjunctivitis

An immunofluorescent technique was used to demonstrate soluble adenoviral antigens in epithelial cells on conjunctival scrapings of patients with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC). Conjunctival scrapings for immunofluorescence and viral isolation studies were performed on 79 patients suspected of having EKC or other acute follicular or papillary conjunctivitides. Of 41 patients with clinical findings consistent with a diagnosis of EKC and three patients with pharyngoconjunctional fever, 43 were positive by immunofluorescence. All 39 patients with adenovirus isolation had positive immunofluorescence studies. The five remaining cases had other documented evidence of EKC. No false-positive responses were encountered in relation to the clinical diagnoses. The fluorescent staining was predominantly found in the cytoplasm. Speckled nuclear fluorescence was also noted. The cytoplasmic fluorescence is compatible with the adenovirus cellular replication cycle. The immunofluorescent technique was found to be a reliable, sensitive, specific, and rapid diagnostic technique for detection of group-reaction adenoviral antigens in conjunctival scrapings.