Antigenic characterization of intermediate adenovirus 14-11 strains associated with upper respiratory illness in a military camp

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Adenoviruses (AVs) are common causes of respiratory illness.
• An outbreak of upper respiratory illness occurred in a Spanish military camp in 1969.
• Unusual viral strains require detailed characterization to understand their epidemiology and pathogenicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize an unusual adenovirus strain causing upper respiratory illness.
• To determine the serological relationship of the isolated strain to known adenovirus types.
• To investigate the immune response in individuals infected with the novel adenovirus variant.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of adenovirus from clinical samples (throat and rectal swabs).
• Standard biological tests for viral grouping and characterization.
• Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and serum neutralization (SN) assays using various antisera.
• Serological analysis of patient serum specimens for antibody level changes.

Main Results:

• An unusual adenovirus variant, serologically related to AV 11, was isolated from patients with upper respiratory illness.
• The isolate exhibited low hemagglutinin titers but was neutralized by AV 11 antiserum.
• Antisera to the isolate showed high HI titers to AV 14 and SN titers to AV 11, classifying it as an AV 14-11 intermediate.
• Patients displayed diagnostic rises in HI and SN antibodies against the AV 14-11 intermediate and AV 11.

Conclusions:

• The identified adenovirus variant represents an intermediate form between AV 14 and AV 11.
• This novel strain was associated with upper respiratory illness in the studied population.
• The findings highlight the importance of continuous viral surveillance and characterization for understanding emerging infectious agents.