Persistent viral shedding of human adenovirus type 7 in children with severe pneumonia. Issue 8 (16th February 2021) - Zeng, Sai‐Zhen
Abstract: To understand host–pathogen interactions and develop effective prevention and control strategies for human adenovirus (HAdV), it is essential to explore the characteristics of HAdV shedding. Hospitalized children <14 years who had severe HAdV pneumonia were tested for HAdV DNA by quantitative real‐time PCR in nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA). A total of 132 children were enrolled, including 102 patients with HAdV type 7 (HAdV‐7) infection and 12 patients with HAdV type 3 (HAdV‐3) infection. A total of 1372 qualified NPA samples were collected. There was a significant negative correlation between the viral load of HAdV and the course of the disease (Spearman r = −0.547, p = .000). HAdV‐7 load decreased at a rate of 0.089 log10 copies/mL per day (95% CI: −0.096 to −0.081; R 2 = 0.332), and the duration of viral shedding was predicted to be 96.9 days ( y = 8.624–0.089 x ). However, HAdV‐3 load decreased more quickly (95% CI: – 0.229 to – 0.143; R 2 = 0.403), and the duration of viral shedding was 51.4 days ( y = 9.558‐0.186 x ). The median viral load of the HAdV‐7 group at weeks 2 and 3, and more than 3 weeks postinfection was higher than that of the HAdV‐3 group. No significant differences in the duration of viral shedding were found in different gender, age (>2 vs. ≤2 years), and with or without underlying diseases groups. Viral shedding in children with severe HAdV pneumonia persisted, among which HAdV‐7 lasted longer than 3 months and the viral load decreased slowly than HAdV‐3.