ADENOVIRUS AND INTRANUCLEAR INCLUSIONS IN APPENDIXES FROM CHILDREN WITH INTUSSUSCEPTION

One hundred and five appendices removed at the time of surgical reduct ion of intussusception in children were studied by light microscopy af ter routine procedures to search for aetiological factors involved in intussusception. Normal pediatric appendix specimens served as control s (n = 30). Light microscopic examination showed viral inclusions in e pithelial cells in 48 of 105 appendices (45 %) from the cases of intus susception. No viral inclusion was observed in controls. Immunohistoch emistry performed on 21 appendices from intussusception with a monoclo nal antibody against adenovirus showed intranuclear positivity in all appendices with virus inclusions. Viral inclusions seen in epithelial cells of appendices from cases of intussusception are caused by virus and in particularly by adenovirus. The etiological factors involved in intussusception without viral inclusion in appendix remain unknown.