Adenovirus

Prepared by: Michael J. Huerkamp, DVM, Diplomate ACLAM
Date: April 2, 1999

Agent: Adenovirus

Human adenovirus is a common cause of respiratory and digestive system illness in infants and children and, to a much lesser extent, adults. Animals may be experimentally infected with human adenovirus in order to study the growth, activity or infectivity of the agent; or to study the response of the immune system to the virus.

Potential Hazard: Transmission of the virus can occur by inhalation, ingestion or inoculation onto the inner surfaces of the eye lids. The illness caused by human adenovirus is typically characterized by a variety of signs that may include a runny nose, swelling and irritation of the inner surfaces of the eyelids, low-grade fever, cough, sore
throat, stomach ache and diarrhea. The illness may last one to two weeks. In rare cases, pneumonia may occur.

Recommended Precautions: The animal biosafety level II practices (DAR SOP 400-3) will protect husbandry personnel against exposure or infection. Vaccines are not available for use in humans.

References: MMWR 47(27): 567-70, 1998.