Harumi Sawada

Genome Typing of Adenovirus Strains Isolated from Conjunctivitis in Japan, Australia, and the Philippines

DNA restriction endonuclease analysis for genome typing of adenovirus (Ad) DNA was carried out on a total of 65 Ad isolates including serotypes Ad4, Ad7, Ad8, Ad11, Ad19, and Ad37 from patients with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis and acute conjunctivitis obtained in Japan from 1982 to 1986, Australia from 1973 to 1986, and the Philippines in 1984. All 4 isolates of Ad7 in Australia were Ad7b. Four of 6 Ad11 isolates obtained in Japan were typed as Ad11 prototype (Ad11p), and the remaining were identified to be new genome types, designated tentatively as Ad11c and Ad11d. An isolate of Ad11 obtained in Australia was typed as Ad11c. Nine Ad8 isolates in Australia and in the Philippines were typed as Ad8p, but 11 Ad8 isolates in Japan were Ad8b. Thirteen Ad19 isolates were identified as Ad19a. All 3 isolates of Ad37 in Japan and three isolates in Australia before 1982 were typed as Ad37p, however, 5 isolates in Australia after 1983 were identified as a new genome type, designated as Ad37d. In Japan, 10 isolates of Ad4 were identified as Ad4a.

Detection and Nucleotide Sequence Analysis of Human Caliciviruses (HuCVs) from Samples in Non-Bacterial Gastroenteritis Outbreaks in Hokkaido, Japan

Samples of feces and vomit collected from patients during 13 non‐bacterial gastroenteritis outbreaks which occurred in Hokkaido between 1995 and 1998 were examined by electron microscopy (EM) and reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) for evidence of infection with human caliciviruses (HuCVs). In 6 food‐borne outbreaks, oysters were the probable source of infection, while the origin of HuCVs was not found out for the other 7 outbreaks. One‐hundred‐eleven of 214 stool, vomit and oyster specimens examined gave positive results by RT‐PCR, while HuCVs were detected by EM in 36 of 121 stool specimens examined. We determined the nucleotide sequences of 470‐bp or 373‐bp PCR products amplified from the RNA polymerase region of the HuCV genomes with primer sets MR3/4 and Yuri22F/R, respectively. The sequences of different strains revealed great heterogenicity, with a range of 60 to 100% homology among strains. In a few cases, a mixed genotype was found in the same patient or same outbreak by means of nested PCR and cloning of PCR products into an appropriate vector. Of the 19 different strains found, 4 strains could be classified as Norwalk virus (genogroup 1) and the other 15 strains as Snow Mountain agent (genogroup 2) based on genotyping with homology analysis. Furthermore, the strains belonging to genogroup 2 could be classified into 4 subgroups with more than 93% homology in amino acids among strains in the subgroup.

Clinical and Etiological Study of Viral Conjunctivitis During six Years, 1974–1979, in Sapporo, Japan

Among 357 viral conjunctivitis tested during 6-year study, 219 (61%) were virologically and/or serologically detected; consisting of 76 cases with enteroviruses (EV70 except one), 141 cases with adenoviruses (types 3, 4, 8 and 19) and 2 cases with HSV. The findings were an interim outline on the etiologic analysis of viral conjunctivitis which has been conducted in Sapporo since 1974. Upon the basis of these findings, improvements were made on some points and the collaborative study continues to be carried out We would like to clarify the problems left unsolved, especially in those patients with new viral agents, such as cox-ackievirus A 24 variant and higher number types of adenoviruses.