50 Years Ago in The Journal of Pediatrics: Adenovirus pneumonia

Abstract

Blattner RJ. J Pediatr 1958;53:631-3It is now known that the spectrum of disease manifestations of human adenovirus infection can be quite variable, depending on the serotype. Blattner described an outbreak of adenovirus pneumonia that occurred in France in 1955. At that time, only 18 serotypes of adenovirus were known. Today, more than 52 serotypes have been identified, and the disease spectrum extends from asymptomatic infection through pharyngoconjunctival fever, pneumonia, epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, acute hemorrhagic cystitis, gastroenteritis, meningoencephalitis, hepatitis, myocarditis, and life-threatening disseminated disease. Severe or even fatal infections can occur in immunocompromised persons.Advances in molecular biology have enhanced our understanding of this virus. To allow easy and rapid identification, serotypes are classified into subgroups or species (A to G) according to genomic DNA sequence, tissue tropism, and other biological properties. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction technology has become the state-of-the-art approach to providing early diagnosis, tracking the course of infection, and monitoring response to treatment. For adenoviral disease in recipients of bone marrow transplantation, treatment with cidofovir (a selective viral DNA synthesis inhibitor) has decreased viremia and produced concomitant clinical improvement in case series. Oral adenovirus vaccine (Ad4 and Ad7), which is no longer manufactured, had been used in military populations for decades to prevent adenovirus infection. The vaccine was demonstrated to be safe, and with increasing incidence and severity of adenovirus infection, interest in an adenovirus vaccine has been rekindled.The past 50 years have seen the development of rapid molecular assays for early detection of adenovirus in clinical settings. These assays allow for further research aimed at discovering new antiviral agents and type-specific vaccines that hopefully will substantially decrease adenovirus-associated morbidity and mortality in vulnerable populations. Blattner RJ. J Pediatr 1958;53:631-3 It is now known that the spectrum of disease manifestations of human adenovirus infection can be quite variable, depending on the serotype. Blattner described an outbreak of adenovirus pneumonia that occurred in France in 1955. At that time, only 18 serotypes of adenovirus were known. Today, more than 52 serotypes have been identified, and the disease spectrum extends from asymptomatic infection through pharyngoconjunctival fever, pneumonia, epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, acute hemorrhagic cystitis, gastroenteritis, meningoencephalitis, hepatitis, myocarditis, and life-threatening disseminated disease. Severe or even fatal infections can occur in immunocompromised persons. Advances in molecular biology have enhanced our understanding of this virus. To allow easy and rapid identification, serotypes are classified into subgroups or species (A to G) according to genomic DNA sequence, tissue tropism, and other biological properties. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction technology has become the state-of-the-art approach to providing early diagnosis, tracking the course of infection, and monitoring response to treatment. For adenoviral disease in recipients of bone marrow transplantation, treatment with cidofovir (a selective viral DNA synthesis inhibitor) has decreased viremia and produced concomitant clinical improvement in case series. Oral adenovirus vaccine (Ad4 and Ad7), which is no longer manufactured, had been used in military populations for decades to prevent adenovirus infection. The vaccine was demonstrated to be safe, and with increasing incidence and severity of adenovirus infection, interest in an adenovirus vaccine has been rekindled. The past 50 years have seen the development of rapid molecular assays for early detection of adenovirus in clinical settings. These assays allow for further research aimed at discovering new antiviral agents and type-specific vaccines that hopefully will substantially decrease adenovirus-associated morbidity and mortality in vulnerable populations.