An outbreak of respiratory disease due to a type 5 adenovirus identified as genome type 5a

A cluster of adenovirus type 5-caused acute respiratory diseases was observed in Prague in the autumn-winter season of 1978/79. An analysis of viral DNA by sequence-specific restriction enzymes in two out of 39 isolates revealed that these isolates, identical to each other, were clearly distinct from adenovirus type 5 prototype strain. The designation "adenovirus genome type 5a" is suggested for these isolates.