[The clinical significance of the human adenovirus DNA copy number and identification of the serotype in the patients with human adenovirus conjunctivitis].

PURPOSE: We studied the copy number of human adenovirus (HAdV) DNA and the serotypes of patients with HAdV conjunctivitis and discussed the clinical significance.

MATERIALS AND METHOD: Samples were collected from 80 subjects with sporadic infection and 81 patients with nosocomial HAdV conjunctivitis by scraping the inflamed conjunctiva. DNA copy number was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Then the serotypes were identified by phylogenetic analysis.

RESULT: The sporadic patients had viral DNA ranging from 10(5) to 10(10) copies. Subjects with positive Adenocheck and severe symptoms showed a higher DNA copy number. HAdV-3, 4, 8, 19a, and 37 were identified serologically. However, in nosocomial conjunctivitis, only HAdV-19a and 37 were identified serologically, and their copy numbers ranged from 10(3) to 10(10).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with HAdV conjunctivitis have a definite volume of DNA in the conjunctiva. The DNA copy number was in parallel with the severity of conjunctivitis. Moreover, the nosocomial infection was caused by definite serotypes such as HAdV-19a and 37.