The Virus Watch Program. IV. Recovery and Comparison of Two Serological Varieties of Adenovirus Type 5.

Abstract

Summary During continuing virologic surveillance of family groups observed excretion of type 5 adenovirus comprised two antigeni-cally distinct varieties, one which reacted normally in HI and neutralization tests and a variant which, with a particular stock type 1 antiserum, cross-reacted extensively in tests of both types. The variant strains were isolated during a distinct outbreak and appeared to spread more readily within families and the community than did normal reacting strains, possibly because of more abundant (especially respiratory) shedding. All type 5 isolates from members of the same family, regardless of interval after first isolation, were of the same variety. In 4 individual instances, including one variant infection, excretion persisted intermittently for more than 100 days (313 maximum). The prolonged excretion of but one variety argues for persisting infection rather than reinfection as the source of the intermittent excretion and also suggests relative genetic stability of the variant.