High molecular diversity of human adenoviruses in children living in
Northwestern Amazon region hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis.
Abstract
Objectives: We assessed the prevalence and genetic diversity of
human adenovirus in children up to five years old, with and without
acute gastroenteritis, in the Amazon region during 2016, 2017, and 2021.
Design: This cross-sectional study used fecal samples from
children admitted to a hospital in Boa Vista, Roraima. The samples were
tested for adenovirus using quantitative real-time PCR and further
characterized by PCR and sequencing of three specific genes.
Results: Out of 942 samples, 13% tested positive for
adenovirus—12% in children with acute gastroenteritis and 15.6% in
children without gastroenteritis. Genotyping revealed that species F and
C were predominant in acute gastroenteritis cases, while species F and A
were more common in non-acute cases. The study found significant
temporal variations in prevalence, with the highest rates in 2016.
Adenovirus D37 was detected for the first time in Brazil.
Conclusions: The study highlighted the notable presence and
diversity of adenovirus among children in the Amazon region, emphasizing
the need for continuous monitoring.