Recent respiratory and enteric adenovirus infection in children in the Manchester area.

Seventy-three group B adenoviruses (29 type 3 and 44 type 7) identified in a recent community outbreak were analysed with restriction endonucleases. Considerable genetic heterogeneity was identified, particularly amongst the type 3 isolates, but this genome variation could not be correlated with either clinical or epidemiological findings. Group F adenoviruses were found in 132 (4.1%) of 3202 stool specimens from children with gastroenteritis and, after rotaviruses, they were the most common viruses identified. Unlike rotaviruses, these enteric adenoviruses were endemic throughout the 3-year study period and the greatest proportion of infections (47.6%) were found in babies under 6 months old.