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Molecular analysis of adenovirus strains responsible for gastroenteritis in children, under five, in Tunisia
Asma Bouazizi1,2, Mouna Ben Hadj Fredj1,3, Haifa Bennour1
1Research laboratory for Epidemiology and immunogenetics of viral infections (LR14SP02), Sahloul University Hospital, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia.
Insights
Human adenovirus (HAdV) infections are common in young children with acute gastroenteritis (AGEs). This study identified HAdV F41 and C2 as predominant strains in Tunisian children, highlighting the need for ongoing genotype surveillance.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Enteric Adenovirus (EAdV) is a leading cause of severe acute gastroenteritis (AGEs) in infants.
- Human Adenovirus (HAdV) infections represent a significant public health concern in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of HAdV infections in children under 5 years old with AGEs in Tunisia.
- To characterize the genotypes of circulating HAdV strains in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- PCR and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) were used to detect and characterize HAdV in 582 stool samples.
- Phylogenetic analysis of the Hexon gene sequences was performed using MEGA6 software.
Main Results:
- HAdV was detected in 8.93% of samples, with a male predominance.
- Predominant HAdV genotypes identified were F41 and C2, with other serotypes including C5, E4, and A18.
- Infections were most common in infants under 12 months, with seasonal peaks in autumn and winter.
Conclusions:
- HAdV infections are frequent in Tunisian children with AGEs, particularly strains F41 and C2.
- Regular monitoring of circulating HAdV genotypes is crucial for epidemiological research and public health strategies.
Purpose Of Work:
Enteric Adenovirus (EAdV) is recognized as one of the most commonly identified agents responsible for severe acute gastroenteritis (AGEs) in the stools of infants.We sought to determine the rate of human adenovirus (HAdV) infections, and the genotypic characterization of circulating strains of HAdV in children under 5 years of age with AGEs in university and regional hospitals, located in the Center-East of Tunisia, from January 2014 to December 2016.
Methods:
A classic PCR was performed on 582 stool samples taken within 5 days of the onset of symptoms. Chosen positive samples were sequenced, and some of the results were confirmed by the Next Generation Sequencing technique (NGS). Partial nucleotide sequences of the Hexon gene obtained in this study were compared with the NCBI GenBank database using BLAST. Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis were conducted using MEGA6 software. The phylogenetic tree was generated using the maximum-likelihood method and bootstrap analysis was performed with 1000 replications.
Results:
Out of 582 samples, 52 (8.93 %) cases were positive for HAdV, with a male predominance (57.4 %). Phylogenetic analyses showed that Tunisian HAdV strains clustered into five HAdV lineages corresponding to serotypes F41 (14/28), C2 (9/28), C5 (3/28), E4 (1/28), and A18 (1/28). HAdV was more frequent in children aged up to 12 months, as compared to the other age groups. The HAdV activity was noted in almost all the months of the year with a peak in autumn, in 2014 and 2015, and in winter in 2016.
Conclusion:
This study showed that infections with HAdV species were frequent in children suffering from AGE with the predominance of HAdV F41 and C2. This result underlines the importance of regular monitoring of circulating genotypes, and it could be useful for future epidemiological research.
