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Enteric adenoviruses: detection, replication, and significance
Abstract:
Adenoviruses can be demonstrated readily in the stools of pediatric gastroenteritis patients by electron microscopy or counterimmunoelectrophoresis, but in 45% of these cases the virus will not grow in cell culture. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy can be used to detect nongrowing strains of adenovirus; these strains have a unique single-cell fluorescence pattern. Hematoxylin and eosin staining reveals adenovirus-like inclusion bodies in the same distribution as fluorescent cells. Pretreatment of nongrowing adenovirus with convalescent-phase patient serum neutralized its ability to infect the cell culture and produce fluorescent cells. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy compared favorably with electron microscopy in demonstrating virus in the stools of patients.
Insights
Detecting non-cultivatable adenoviruses in children with gastroenteritis is possible using indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. This method offers a reliable alternative to electron microscopy for identifying these difficult-to-grow viral strains.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Microscopy
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
Background:
- Adenoviruses are a common cause of pediatric gastroenteritis.
- Standard cell culture methods fail to detect approximately 45% of adenovirus strains in patient stool samples.
- Electron microscopy and counterimmunoelectrophoresis can detect adenoviruses but have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate indirect immunofluorescence microscopy (IIFM) for detecting non-cultivatable adenovirus strains in pediatric gastroenteritis.
- To compare the efficacy of IIFM with traditional methods like electron microscopy.
Main Methods:
- Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy was used to detect adenovirus in stool samples.
- Hematoxylin and eosin staining was employed to visualize inclusion bodies.
- Neutralization assays with convalescent-phase patient serum were performed on non-growing strains.
Main Results:
- Non-cultivatable adenoviruses exhibited a unique single-cell fluorescence pattern with IIFM.
- Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed inclusion bodies colocalizing with fluorescent cells.
- Convalescent-phase serum neutralized the infectivity of non-growing adenovirus strains.
- IIFM demonstrated comparable performance to electron microscopy in detecting adenovirus in stool.
Conclusions:
- Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy is an effective method for identifying non-cultivatable adenoviruses in pediatric gastroenteritis.
- IIFM provides a valuable diagnostic tool when viral culture is unsuccessful.
- This technique aids in the comprehensive diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis in children.