Prevalence of Human Adenoviruses in Respiratory Tract-infected Patients in Anbar Governorate (West of Iraq): A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are a significant worldwide problem that causes viral respiratory tract infections affecting millions worldwide each year, especially in children and immunocompromised adults. Objective: To know the prevalence of HAdVs strains 3, 4, 7 among respiratory tract infected patients aged between 15–42 years in Anbar province (west of Iraq) using enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) test with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Material and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done between 22th of January 2021 - October 11, 2021 to notice the frequency of HAdVs in Anbar governorate children and adults with respiratory infections from the various general hospitals and private clinics. Depending on our questionnaires, blood samples were taken from all those patients for hematological and serological parameters. The ELIZA test with PCR has been done depending on the manufacturer’s instructions. Results: A total of 104 respiratory tract Infected patients, 11(10.6%) patients were ELISA IgM positive, 9(8.7%) of ELISA IgM positive patients were positive using PCR technology. The 6(5.8%) patients were ELISA IgG positive for HAdV. Out of 32 mild pneumonia patients, 1(3.1%) was positive for HAdV using IgM ELIZA. Out of 46 moderate pneumonia patients, 6(13.0%) were positive for HAdV using IgM ELIZA. Out of 26 sever pneumonia patients, 4(15.4%) were positive for HAdV using IgM ELIZA. Out of 32 mild pneumonia patients, 1(3.1%) was positive for HAdV using IgM ELIZA. Out of 46 moderate pneumonia patients, 6(13.0%) were positive for HAdV using IgM ELIZA. Out of 26 sever pneumonia patients, 4(15.4%) were positive for HAdV using IgM ELIZA. Conclusion: The prevalence of HAdVs strain 7 in children with respiratory infection was 4.8%, whereas its prevalence in adults in age groups 18–50 and 51+ years was 2.9% for each group using the IgM ELIZA test.