Abstract
Introduction: :
Human Adenoviruses (Ad) infect billions of people worldwide and cause various clinical manifestations such as keratoconjunctivitis, upper and lower respiratory tract infections, hemorrhagic cystitis and gastroenteritis. Fifty one different type of Ad are able to induce damage on human and are related with their tissue tropism; for example: Ad8, Ad19 y Ad37 infect cornea; Ad1, Ad2, Ad3, Ad4, Ad5 y Ad6 mainly affect respiratory airways and enteric infections have been caused associated with Ad40 y Ad41. Broad range of adenoviruses cause conjunctivitis and are also linked with outbreaks of follicular conjunctivitis or pharyngoconjunctival fever (principally subgenus B, type 3 and 7; subgenus 1, 2 and 5; subgenus D type 8, 19 and 37 and subgenus E type 4).
Purpose: :
The aim of our study was to identify by molecular technique the different Ad and their association to eye illnesses.
Materials and Patients: :
From the processed samples from swabs of inferior fornix from patients with clinical conjunctivitis or keratitis, were collected from November 2004 to October 2005. The DNA was extracted from swabs and processed by generic PCR to identify adenovirus. The serotype which causes the infection could be identified by Nest–PCR and the analysis with restriction endonucleasessuch as EcoT130I, BsuRI and Hinf I.
Results: :
From the processed samples, 28 were positive to adenovirus for generic PCR, 16 individuals were infected with C subgenus and 12 patients whit B subgenus adenovirus.
Conclusions: :
The members of subgenus C are the most frequently isolated and they are the causative agents of pharyngeal conjunctival fever among children as well as of outbreaks of conjunctivitis related to swimming in the summer. In our study the Nest–PCR–RFLP are very sensitive and specific methods for the identification of microorganisms responsible for eye diseases such as adenoviruses.
Keywords: adenovirus • conjunctivitis • keratitis