ABSTRACT
Adenoviruses (AdV) are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) viruses that typically cause mild infections involving the upper or lower respiratory tract, conjunctiva, or gastrointestinal tract. Human AdVs (HAdV) are double-stranded, nonenveloped DNA viruses belonging to the genus Mastadenovirus of the Adenoviridae family that were initially described in 1953. Historically, HAdVs were classified into 51 serotypes using neutralization assays. The fiber gene mediates the attachment of HAdV to the host cell and is therefore a major determinant of viral trophism. Disseminated HAdV infections are rare among immunocompetent hosts; however, dissemination occurs in 10–30% of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients with HAdV infection. Experimental infection of laboratory animals with HAdV-36 results in obesity as a result of increased adipogenesis. In a multicenter trial in allogeneic HSCT recipients, Cidofovir (CDV) eradicated HAdV infection in 20/29 patients. CDV is generally well tolerated, but nephrotoxicity, and uveitis may complicate its use. Numerous nonrandomized studies in HSCT and solid organ transplant recipients cited favorable responses to CDV.
