Molecular epidemiology of adenoviruses: alternating appearance of two different genome types of adenovirus 7 during epidemic outbreaks in Europe from 1958 to 1980.

Four genome types of adenovirus serotype 7 (Ad7, Ad7a, Ad7b, and Ad7c) were identified by use of DNA restriction enzymes BamHI, EcoRI, and SmaI. We obtained information on the distribution of the four Ad7 genome types by typing 68 Ad7 isolates obtained in the Netherlands from 1958 to 1979 and 36 Ad7 isolates obtained in Sweden from 1964 to 1980. The Ad7 prototype was never detected, and only seven isolates were genome-typed Ad7a. Ad7b and Ad7c accounted for 94% of the genome-typed isolates obtained from patients. Ad7c was isolated in the Netherlands during 1958 to 1969, but only Ad7b has been detected there since 1970. In Sweden, Ad7c was recovered between 1964 to 1972, but only Ad7b has been isolated there since 1973. In conclusion, the newly recognized Ad7b and Ad7c genome types, which in the Netherlands and Sweden represent virtually all genome-typed isolates from patients, show a mutually exclusive appearance.