Human adenoviruses (ADV) are distributed worldwide; they are associated with a variety of diseases. Some ADV can be implicated in large epidemics of conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis and respiratory infections. Classical diagnosis of ADV infections is based on virus isolation on cell culture and identification of the serotype by neutralization test or hemagglutination inhibition assay. However, these methods have a lack of rapidity that makes them impractical in clinical situations. With the advent of PCR, the diagnosis of ADV was improved. In this work, we have used molecular techniques for the identification of ADV serotypes implicated in conjunctivitis in Tunisia. A total of 199 conjunctival swabs received between October 2000 and May 2005 were investigated. Serotype identification was performed using a PCR followed by restriction enzyme analysis in the hexon gene. Typing by sequencing of the PCR product was used to confirm the serotype identification. Among the 199 tested clinical specimens, 24% were positive for ADV. Two different profiles were observed: one predominant corresponding to the majority of the detected ADV; this profile is in favour of two distinct serotypes, ADV37 or ADV8; the second profile was specific of ADV4 and was found in one case observed in 2005. Sequencing confirmed two serotypes: ADV8 with an endemoepidemically circulation in our country and ADV4 that appeared sporadic. The present work showed the importance of molecular techniques not only for ADV detection but also for identification of the circulating serotypes. These techniques are practical and interesting mainly for the rapid virological investigation during epidemics. (c) 2006 Elsevier Masson SAS. Toes droits reserves.

This study reports the genetic characteristics of coxsackievirus A24 isolates from Tunisia, including a coxsackievirus A24 variant (CVA24v) that caused an outbreak of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) between September and November 2003. The virus genome was detected by PCR from conjunctival swabs obtained from patients with AHC. Four virus isolates were obtained from PCR-positive samples and were serotyped by sequence analysis of the VP1 and VP4 genomic region and by seroneutralisation. Phylogenetic analysis of the VP1, VP4 and 3C genomic regions was performed. Other Tunisian CVA24 isolates from paralytic cases and healthy individuals were also amplified, sequenced and included in the phylogenetic analysis. The epidemic strain belonged to the CVA24 serotype. Phylogenetic analysis of the 3C region of the genome revealed a strong relationship between the Tunisian epidemic strain and strains that caused outbreaks in Korea (2002) and Guadeloupe and French Guiana (2003). Phylogenetic analysis of the VP1 and VP4 regions showed a clear distinction between serotype CVA24 isolates from conjunctivitis and non-conjunctivitis cases. This is the first study to report an outbreak of AHC caused by CVA24v in the North African region.

Human adenoviruses (ADV) are distributed worldwide; they are associated with a variety of diseases. Some ADV can be implicated in large epidemics of conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis and respiratory infections. Classical diagnosis of ADV infections is based on virus isolation on cell culture and identification of the serotype by neutralization test or hemagglutination inhibition assay. However, these methods have a lack of rapidity that makes them impractical in clinical situations. With the advent of PCR, the diagnosis of ADV was improved. In this work, we have used molecular techniques for the identification of ADV serotypes implicated in conjunctivitis in Tunisia. A total of 199 conjunctival swabs received between October 2000 and May 2005 were investigated. Serotype identification was performed using a PCR followed by restriction enzyme analysis in the hexon gene. Typing by sequencing of the PCR product was used to confirm the serotype identification. Among the 199 tested clinical specimens, 24% were positive for ADV. Two different profiles were observed: one predominant corresponding to the majority of the detected ADV; this profile is in favour of two distinct serotypes, ADV37 or ADV8; the second profile was specific of ADV4 and was found in one case observed in 2005. Sequencing confirmed two serotypes: ADV8 with an endemoepidemically circulation in our country and ADV4 that appeared sporadic. The present work showed the importance of molecular techniques not only for ADV detection but also for identification of the circulating serotypes. These techniques are practical and interesting mainly for the rapid virological investigation during epidemics.