GENOME TYPE ANALYSIS OF SOUTH-AMERICAN ADENOVIRUSES OF SUBGENUS-C COLLECTED OVER A 7-YEAR PERIOD

A collection of 148 adenovirus strains of subgenus C collected in Arge ntina, Chile, and Uruguay were studied by restriction enzyme analysis of genomic DNA with endonucleases BamHI, BglII, BstEII, EcoRI, HindIII , KpnI, and SmaI. Only strains corresponding to serotypes 1, 2, and 5 were identified representing both already described and new genome typ es. The most frequently detected type was Ad 2 followed by Ad 1 and Ad 5. Three different genomic variants of both Ad 1 and Ad 5 were discri minated. Ad 2 with 9 genome types exhibited the greatest variability. Novel profiles emerged only in strains corresponding to this serotype by restriction with BglII and Bst EII. The circulation of prototype-li ke strains of Ad 1 throughout the study period is noteworthy. Thirty-s ix of 43 strains corresponded to genome type D 1. Clearly, one genome type of each serotype predominated over the 7-year period (Ad 1 D 1, n = 36; Ad 2 D 5, n = 32, and Ad 5 D 36, n = 17). Some genomic variants were detected sporadically and only in Argentina, Chile, or Uruguay w hereas others were widely distributed and circulated for years. A high proportion of the analysed strains was isolated from children under o ne year and males were more frequently infected than females.