Stephanie A Kujawski1,2, Xiaoyan Lu1, Eileen Schneider1, David Blythe3, Sameh Boktor4, Janice Farrehi5, Thomas Haupt6, David McBride7, Emily Stephens8, Senthilkumar K Sakthivel1, Brian Bachaus3, Kirsten Waller4, Laura Bauman9, Agustina Marconi10, Rebecca Lewis11, Lisa Dettinger4, Robert Ernst5, William Kinsey10, Stephen Lindstrom1, Susan I Gerber1, John T Watson1, Holly M Biggs1. 1. Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. 2. Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. 3. Maryland Department of Health Prevention and Health Promotion, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. 4. Pennsylvania Department of Health, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA. 5. University Health Service, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. 6. Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. 7. University Health Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA. 8. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia, USA. 9. Washtenaw County Health Department, Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA. 10. University Health Services, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. 11. Henrico County Health Department, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are commonly associated with acute respiratory illness. HAdV outbreaks are well documented in congregate military training settings, but less is known about outbreaks on college campuses. During fall 2018 and spring 2019, 5 United States (US) colleges reported increases in HAdV-associated respiratory illness. Investigations were performed to better understand HAdV epidemiology in this setting. METHODS: A case was defined as a student at one of the 5 colleges, with acute respiratory illness and laboratory-confirmed HAdV infection during October 2018-December 2018 or March-May 2019. Available respiratory specimens were typed by HAdV type-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction assays, and for a subset, whole genome sequencing was performed. We reviewed available medical records and cases were invited to complete a questionnaire, which included questions on symptom presentation, social history, and absenteeism. RESULTS: We identified 168 HAdV cases. Median age was 19 (range, 17-22) years and 102 cases (61%) were male. Eleven cases were hospitalized, 10 with pneumonia; 2 cases died. Among questionnaire respondents, 80% (75/94) missed ≥ 1 day of class because of their illness. Among those with a type identified (79%), HAdV types 4 and 7 were equally detected, with frequency of each varying by site. Genome types 4a1 and 7d were identified, respectively, by whole genome sequence analysis. CONCLUSIONS: HAdV respiratory illness was associated with substantial morbidity and missed class time among young, generally healthy adults on 5 US college campuses. HAdVs should be considered a cause of respiratory illness outbreaks in congregate settings such as college campuses. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2020.
BACKGROUND:Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are commonly associated with acute respiratory illness. HAdV outbreaks are well documented in congregate military training settings, but less is known about outbreaks on college campuses. During fall 2018 and spring 2019, 5 United States (US) colleges reported increases in HAdV-associated respiratory illness. Investigations were performed to better understand HAdV epidemiology in this setting. METHODS: A case was defined as a student at one of the 5 colleges, with acute respiratory illness and laboratory-confirmed HAdV infection during October 2018-December 2018 or March-May 2019. Available respiratory specimens were typed by HAdV type-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction assays, and for a subset, whole genome sequencing was performed. We reviewed available medical records and cases were invited to complete a questionnaire, which included questions on symptom presentation, social history, and absenteeism. RESULTS: We identified 168 HAdV cases. Median age was 19 (range, 17-22) years and 102 cases (61%) were male. Eleven cases were hospitalized, 10 with pneumonia; 2 cases died. Among questionnaire respondents, 80% (75/94) missed ≥ 1 day of class because of their illness. Among those with a type identified (79%), HAdV types 4 and 7 were equally detected, with frequency of each varying by site. Genome types 4a1 and 7d were identified, respectively, by whole genome sequence analysis. CONCLUSIONS:HAdV respiratory illness was associated with substantial morbidity and missed class time among young, generally healthy adults on 5 US college campuses. HAdVs should be considered a cause of respiratory illness outbreaks in congregate settings such as college campuses. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2020.
Authors: Ali A Rabaan; Muhammed A Bakhrebah; Majed S Nassar; Zuhair S Natto; Abbas Al Mutair; Saad Alhumaid; Mohammed Aljeldah; Mohammed Garout; Wadha A Alfouzan; Fatimah S Alshahrani; Tarek Sulaiman; Meshal K AlFonaisan; Mubarak Alfaresi; Saleh A Alshamrani; Firzan Nainu; Shin Jie Yong; Om Prakash Choudhary; Naveed Ahmed Journal: Pathogens Date: 2022-06-21