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Molecular identification of adenoviral conjunctivitis in Turkey
Ramazan Yağci1, Alper Akçali, Server Yağci
1Fatih University, Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, Ankara, Turkey. ramazanyagci@yahoo.com
Purpose:
The aim of the study was isolation of adenoviruses by cell culture and identification using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and phylogenetic analyses in patients clinically diagnosed with viral conjunctivitis in Ankara, Turkey.
Methods:
Conjunctival swabs from 34 patients with acute conjunctivitis were tested using cell culture isolation and PCR for adenovirus detection. PCR-positive samples were sequenced and typed.
Results:
The positive results of adenovirus were 26.5% (9 of 34) by the PCR method and 20.6% by culture isolation. Nine samples positive at PCR were identified by phylogenetic analyses as human adenovirus 8 (HAdV-8) (4 of 9), HAdV-3 (3 of 9), HAdV-4 (1 of 9), and HAdV-B (1 of 9).
Conclusions:
Our study showed types of adenoviruses in patients with ocular infection that occurred in this region of Turkey for the first time. Furthermore, sequence-based typing method is an efficient, accurate, and rapid means of diagnosis and typing of the adenovirus and has significant clinical and epidemiologic implications. HAdV-8 was major type for acute conjunctivitis in Ankara, Turkey. Further studies are required to reveal the major types of HAdVs that cause ocular diseases in this region of the world.
Insights
This study identified human adenovirus 8 (HAdV-8) as the primary cause of acute conjunctivitis in Ankara, Turkey. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed HAdV-8 and other adenovirus types in patients, highlighting the efficiency of PCR and sequencing for diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Viral conjunctivitis is a common ocular infection.
- Adenoviruses are a significant cause of infectious conjunctivitis worldwide.
- Accurate identification and typing of adenoviruses are crucial for epidemiological surveillance and clinical management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and identify adenoviruses in patients with clinically diagnosed viral conjunctivitis in Ankara, Turkey.
- To determine the types of adenoviruses causing ocular infections in the region.
- To evaluate the efficacy of cell culture, PCR, and phylogenetic analysis for adenovirus detection and typing.
Main Methods:
- Conjunctival swabs were collected from 34 patients with acute conjunctivitis.
- Samples were analyzed using cell culture isolation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for adenovirus detection.
- PCR-positive samples underwent sequencing and phylogenetic analysis for precise typing.
Main Results:
- Adenovirus was detected in 26.5% of patients by PCR and 20.6% by cell culture.
- Phylogenetic analysis identified human adenovirus 8 (HAdV-8) in 4 out of 9 positive samples.
- Other identified adenovirus types included HAdV-3, HAdV-4, and HAdV-B.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first report on adenovirus types causing ocular infections in Ankara, Turkey.
- Sequence-based typing is an efficient, accurate, and rapid method for adenovirus diagnosis and typing.
- HAdV-8 was identified as the predominant type responsible for acute conjunctivitis in the study population.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the spectrum of HAdVs causing ocular diseases in this region.
