DETECTION OF ADENOVIRUS OUTBREAK AT A MUNICIPAL SWIMMING POOL BY NESTED PCR AMPLIFICATION

In July 1995 an outbreak of pharyngoconjuctivitis caused by adenovirus es occurred among athletes participating in a swimming contest in a to wn in southern Greece (Peloponnese), At least 80 persons displayed sym ptoms of the illness, with the predominant ones being high fever, sore throat, conjuctivitis, headache, and abdominal pain. Poor chlorinatio n was probably the cause of the outbreak (residual chlorine <0.2 mg/l) , as after hyperchlorination the spread of adenoviruses stopped. Rapid detection of adenoviruses in the municipal swimming pool water by nes ted polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification allowed quid; contro l of the outbreak.