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Antibodies to fastidious faecal adenoviruses (species 40 and 41) in sera from children
Insights
Antibodies to fastidious adenoviruses (species 40 and 41) were found in over 41% of children globally. Seroprevalence in UK children from the 1960s and 1970s was comparable to a Gambian village community.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Fastidious adenoviruses, species 40 and 41, are known enteric pathogens.
- Understanding their seroprevalence is crucial for assessing population exposure and potential disease burden.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of antibodies to fastidious adenoviruses (species 40 and 41) in children from diverse geographical locations.
- To compare seroprevalence rates across different regions and time periods.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples from 377 children (under 12 years) across the UK, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Gambia, Guatemala, and Kuwait were analyzed.
- Neutralisation tests using a variant of Adenovirus 41 (Ad41a) were employed to detect specific antibodies.
- Historical sera from London children (1960s) were included for temporal comparison.
Main Results:
- Overall, at least 41.1% of the tested children exhibited antibodies to fastidious adenoviruses.
- In London children from the 1960s, 54.5% had antibodies to Adenovirus 40 or 41.
- Seropositivity rates in a 1979 Gambian village were similar to London children tested in 1979-1980.
Conclusions:
- Fastidious adenoviruses (species 40 and 41) appear to be widespread, with significant antibody prevalence in children globally.
- Seroprevalence in developed and developing countries, even across different decades, shows comparable levels of exposure.
- These findings highlight the ubiquitous nature of these viruses in childhood populations.
Abstract:
Three hundred and seventy-seven single sera from children in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Gambia, Guatemala, and Kuwait were tested for antibodies to fastidious fecal adenoviruses (species 40 and 41) by neutralisation test using a variant of Ad41 (Ad41a). All children were less than 12 years of age, and at least 41.1% of the total tested had antibodies. One hundred and fifty-four of these sera were collected during the 1960s from London children attending day nurseries, and 54.5% had antibodies to Ad40 or Ad41. The proportion of seropositive children from an isolated Gambian village community in 1979 was similar to the proportion of seropositives in London children bled in 1979-1980.