Molecular Prevalence and Genotype Distribution of Human Adenovirus in Iranian Children with Gastroenteritis.

We determined the molecular prevalence and genotype distribution of human adenovirus (HAdV) among children under five years of age with gastroenteritis in Iran. One hundred stool samples from children hospitalized were tested by PCR for adenovirus, and some of the positive samples were sequenced to determine the specific genotype. HAdV DNA was found in 15 samples (15%). The highest and the lowest prevalence of HAdV was observed in the age groups 24-60 months ( HAdV was most common in the 24-60-month-old children. Of the samples sequenced, we found only types 2 and 41. Our results show that in addition to HAdV types 40 and 41, HAdV type 2 may also play a role in causing gastroenteritis in children.