1. ¹Laboratoire de Virologie, EA 3620 Université Paris V, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades AP-HP, Paris, France
2. ²Service d'Immunologie-Hématologie Pédiatrique, Université Paris-Descartes, Faculté de Médecine, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades AP-HP, Paris, France

Correspondence: Dr M Leruez-Ville, Laboratoire de Virologie, CHU Necker-Enfants Malades, 149 rue de Sèvres, 75015 Paris, France. E-mail: marianne.leruez@nck.ap-hop-paris.fr

Received 15 December 2005; Revised 27 February 2006; Accepted 9 April 2006; Published online 15 May 2006.

Abstract

Adenovirus infections result in significant morbidity and mortality in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplanted (hSCT) children. Adenovirus from species C and B account for more than 90% of adenoviruses recovered after hSCT. However, infections due to adenovirus A31 have been increasingly reported in recent years. Between April 2002 and April 2005, blood samples obtained every 2 weeks from 58 hSCT children were screened for adenovirus species A to C by quantitative real-time PCR. Phylogenetic analysis was realized after amplification and sequencing of the entire hexon gene. Fifteen cases of adenovirus infection with viraemia were recovered during this 3 years period. During spring/summer 2003, seven cases occurred and were due to an adenovirus species A. Phylogenetic analysis of the seven strains showed that they belonged to the A31 genotype and shared 100% homology. Clinical features of the seven HSCT children with A31 adenovirus viraemia are described. We describe here an epidemic spread of adenovirus genotype A31 in a paediatric haematology unit. Timing, location and hexon gene genotyping results highly suggested a nosocomial origin to this epidemic. The burden of adenovirus A31 infection needs to be further assessed in this context.