Genome types of adenovirus types 19 and 37 isolated from patients with conjunctivitis in Hiroshima City.

A total of 74 strains out of 33 strains of adenovirus type 19 (Ad19) plus 103 strains of type 37 (Ad37) isolated from patients with conjunctivitis at two ophthalmology clinics in Hiroshima City during the period March 1983 to December 1986 were analyzed by eight DNA restriction endonucleases in comparison with their prototype strains. All 27 Ad19 isolates examined displayed identical DNA cleavage patterns with all enzymes used (HindIII, KpnI, PstI, XhoI, BamHI, SacI, EcoRI, and SmaI), but their cleavage patterns were different from those of the prototype except with HindIII. The genome type of these isolates was tentatively named Ad19a. Forty-seven Ad37 isolates examined were divided into three genome types. They were tentatively named Ad37p, Ad37a, and Ad37b: 16 isolates (Ad37p) displayed DNA cleavage patterns identical with those of the prototype with all eight enzymes described above. Thirty isolates (Ad37a) showed the same patterns as the prototype except with EcoRI. One isolate (Ad37b) showed the same patterns as the prototype except with SmaI. The most frequently isolated genome type during the period studied was Ad37a, but the change of the predominant genome type in yearly incidences was observed.