Antigenic and restriction endonuclease analyses of new adenovirus types 19 and 37 causing acute conjunctivitis

DNA restriction endonuclease cleavage analysis and serum neutralization test were performed in strains of adenovirus types 19 (Ad-19) and 37 (Ad-37) isolated from patients with acute conjunctivitis in Sapporo (Japan), Kaohsiung (Taiwan) and Pusan (South Korea) during the period of 1977 to 1984. Ad-19 and Ad-37 could be roughly differentiated, but a fair degree of cross reactivity was noted by serological test. By DNA restriction endonuclease analysis, Ad-19 isolates, Ad-19 prototype strain and Ad-37 strains were clearly differentiated. It was suggested by DNA cleavage patterns that both Ad-19 and Ad-37 isolates in East Asia are the same as those currently found in Europe and the USA. A new subtype of Ad-37 was found by DNA cleavage analysis among the isolates obtained in Sapporo and Kaohsiung in 1980.