Molecular Eidemiology of Epidemic Keratoconjunctivitis in Austria

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To determine the serotype and genome type of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) in Innsbruck, Austria. The study was done as a part of Worldwide Epidemiology of Infectious Conjunctivitis (WEIC). Methods: We examined a total of 60 conjunctival swabs from patients with acute conjunctivitis in Innsbruck, Austria in 2002 to detect adenovirus (AdV) by PCR method. AdV was detected in a total of 36 conjunctival swabs. Those samples were analysed to determine the serotype and genome type of AdV by PCR, PCR-RFLP and PCR sequence methods. Results: 1. The results of serotype analysis revealed that AdV-3 was found in 6 cases, AdV-4 in 3, AdV-8 in 19, AdV-19a in 4, AdV-37 in 3 and unclassified AdV in one. 2. Three isolates of AdV-3 formed the same cluster with AdV-3p whereas the rest of four formed the same cluster with AdV-3 variant found in 1999. 3. Seven isolates of AdV-8 formed the same cluster with AdV-8E, ten isolates of AdV8 formed the same cluster with AdV-8p and the rest of two isolates did not form the cluster with any genome type of AdV-8. Conclusions: The above findings indicate that AdV-8 was a predominant serotype of EKC in Innsbruck, Austria. It is known that AdV-37 was a predominant serotype of EKC in Japan in recent years. Therefore, a dominant serotype seems different between Austria and Japan.

Keywords: adenovirus • conjunctivitis • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: bio