Genome Types of Adenovirus Type 37 with Different Pathogenicity Isolated in Nagoya City

Out of 217 strains of viruses isolated from patiants with conjunctivitis at one ophthalmology clinic in Nagoya City from 1982 to 1995, 37 were adenovirus type 37 (Ad37). They were isolated mainly from patients with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis in summer-time. DNAs from all Ad37 isolates were extracted and analyzed by five restriction endonucleases (Bam H I, Eco R I, Hind III, Sal I and Sma I) in comparison with prototype strain. Thirty-seven isolates were divided into six genome types (Ad37a, Ad37c, Ad37d, Ad37e, Ad37f and Ad37p). The predominant genome type in 1987 was Ad37a by DNA cleavage pattern analysis with Eco R I. The symptoms of patients with Ad37a were severer compared with those of patients with Ad37p.