Comparative analyses of clinical features reveal the severity of human adenovirus type 55 and type 7 in acute respiratory tract infections

Introduction. Human adenovirus (HAdV) is an important pathogen in acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) and HAdV genotypes are associated with disease severity. Hypothesis. Comparative analyses of clinical features could reveal the severity of different HAdV genotypes in ARTIs. Aim. This study aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of HAdV infections and explore the correlations between clinical features and HAdV genotypes. Methodology. A retrospective study was conducted on ARTIs at Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital during the period 2011–2016. A standardized data form was used to record the clinical information. HAdV was detected by FQ-PCR from respiratory specimens, and genotypes were determined by entire hexon gene sequencing. Results. A total of 8044 samples were collected, of which 296 (3.7 %) were HAdV-positive. Patients ≤44 years old were more likely to be positive for HAdV. There were three peak periods of adenoviral infections, with detection rates of 13.03, 9.39 and 10.38 %, respectively. Six HAdV genotypes (HAdV-55, -7, -3, -14, -50, -2) were identified, with HAdV-55 and HAdV-7 being the most prevalent (50.6 and 21.5 %). Compared with HAdV-7 and other types, patients infected with HAdV-55 had a longer duration of fever (P=0.0428). Infections with HAdV-55 and HAdV-7 were more severe compared to those caused by other types, with higher rates of oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation (P=0.0172 and P=0.0144). All five deaths were caused by HAdV‐55. Conclusion. This study describes the epidemiological characteristics of HAdV infections in North China, revealing the higher severity of HAdV-55 and HAdV-7 in ARTIs. Thus, strengthened surveillance of HAdV genotypes is warranted.