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Quick Facts
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Emerging Research The adeno-36 strain is associated with obesity. Studies have found obese individuals are more likely to test positive for adeno-36, raising the question of whether obesity could be a symptom of infectious disease [Link]. |
About Adenoviruses
Human adenoviruses are widespread in the environment and frequently associated with disease. Depending on the strain, adenoviruses may be transmitted by ingestion or exposure to contaminated aerosols (i.e., the fecal-oral or respiratory route), causing a wide range of symptoms including colds, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, conjunctivitis (eye infection), fever, cystitis (bladder infection), rashes, neurological disease, or ear infection. Illnesses may be mild to severe with the possibility of meningitis, pneumonia or severe dysentery that has been shown to be fatal in up to 55 percent of immunocompromised persons. Adenovirus outbreaks are common in daycare facilities and schools in addition to other crowded sites such as military barracks and healthcare centers. There are at least 40 different types of adenoviruses and 2 have been associated with waterborne disease outbreaks.
Human adenoviruses are widespread in the environment and frequently associated with disease. Depending on the strain, adenoviruses may be transmitted by ingestion or exposure to contaminated aerosols (i.e., the fecal-oral or respiratory route), causing a wide range of symptoms including colds, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, conjunctivitis (eye infection), fever, cystitis (bladder infection), rashes, neurological disease, or ear infection. Illnesses may be mild to severe with the possibility of meningitis, pneumonia or severe dysentery that has been shown to be fatal in up to 55 percent of immunocompromised persons. Adenovirus outbreaks are common in daycare facilities and schools in addition to other crowded sites such as military barracks and healthcare centers. There are at least 40 different types of adenoviruses and 2 have been associated with waterborne disease outbreaks.
Treatment
Conventional UV disinfection inactivates viruses by damaging their RNA or DNA; however, the double-stranded DNA characteristic of adenoviruses enables the virus to be repaired once inside a host cell. Thus, adenoviruses have emerged as the most resistant waterborne virus to UV light (although they are more sensitive to inactivation to chlorine than other human viruses.
Conventional UV disinfection inactivates viruses by damaging their RNA or DNA; however, the double-stranded DNA characteristic of adenoviruses enables the virus to be repaired once inside a host cell. Thus, adenoviruses have emerged as the most resistant waterborne virus to UV light (although they are more sensitive to inactivation to chlorine than other human viruses.
Related Articles
- 05/2012 Waterborne Pathogens: Emerging Issues in Monitoring, Treatment and Control Part 3 [Link]
- 12/2011 Ultraviolet Light-Resistant Viruses Revealed [Link]
- 05/2010 ‘Infectobesity’ Can Waterborne Viruses Cause Excessive Weight Gain? [Link]
- 09/2004 Adenovirus: Balancing Water Treatment Challenges [Link]
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