Are adenoviruses zoonotic? A systematic review of the evidence

Abstract

Adenoviruses (AdVs) are major contributors to clinical illnesses. Novel human and animal AdVs continue to be identified and characterized. Comparative analyses using bioinformatic methods and Omics-based technologies allow insights into how these human pathogens have emerged and their potential for host cross-species transmission. Systematic review of literature published across ProQuest, Pubmed, and Web of Science databases for evidence of adenoviral zoonotic potential identified 589 citations. After removing duplicates, 327 citations were screened for relevance; of which, 74 articles received full-text reviews. Among these, 24 were included here, of which 16 demonstrated evidence of zoonotic transmission of AdVs. These documented instances of AdV crossing host species barriers between humans and non-human primate, bat, feline, swine, canine, ovine, and caprine. Eight studies sought to but did not find evidence of zoonosis. The findings demonstrate substantial evidence suggesting AdVs have previously and will continue crossing host species barriers. These have human health consequences both in terms of novel pathogen emergence and epidemic outbreaks, and of appropriate and safe use of nonhuman adenoviruses for therapeutics. As routine human clinical diagnostics may miss a novel cross-species adenovirus infection in humans, next generation sequencing or panspecies molecular diagnostics may be necessary to detect such incursions.

Adenovirus Infections in African Humans and Wild Non-Human Primates: Great Diversity and Cross-Species Transmission

“…As demonstrated in Figure 2, HAdV-E members seemed to be well adapted in NHPs, since they were present in all NHPs in this study, except green monkeys (perhaps because of the small number of samples), and they clustered both with one another and with SAdV-E members. Although AdVs are generally considered to be rather host species-specific viruses, there are some exceptions [3]. Indeed, HAdV-E could be an exception, since African great apes, as well as macaques or other monkeys in our study, carried HAdV-E members.…”

“…Since then, human adenoviruses (HAdVs) have been increasingly recognized as major contributors to clinical illness, from mild respiratory infections in young children (known as the common cold) to life-threatening multi-organic diseases in people with weakened immune systems. It is estimated that more than 90% of the human population is seropositive for at least one serotype of AdVs [2,3]. Illnesses include upper and lower respiratory tract diseases, conjunctivitis, acute hemorrhagic cystitis, meningoencephalitis, diarrhea, intussusceptions, celiac disease, hepatitis, myocarditis and obesity, with certain clinical diseases associated with specific adenoviral species and genotypes [3].…”

“…It is estimated that more than 90% of the human population is seropositive for at least one serotype of AdVs [2,3]. Illnesses include upper and lower respiratory tract diseases, conjunctivitis, acute hemorrhagic cystitis, meningoencephalitis, diarrhea, intussusceptions, celiac disease, hepatitis, myocarditis and obesity, with certain clinical diseases associated with specific adenoviral species and genotypes [3]. Despite their role as pathogens, some HAdVs and simian adenoviruses (SAdVs) have been used or proposed as tools for vaccine delivery and gene therapy [4].…”

“…They have been divided into seven distinct species (Human mastadenovirus A to Human mastadenovirus G, informally HAdV-A to HAdV-G) that were originally distinguished by their biological, clinical and restriction enzyme digestion properties and were reconfirmed using omics data. AdVs within the genus Mastadenovirus could infect other mammalian hosts, such as NHPs, bats, bovines, canines, deer, dolphins, equines, murines, ovines, swine, sea lions, skunks, squirrels and tree shrews [3]. Novel human and animal AdVs continue to be identified and characterized [5,6].…”

Genomics‐based re‐examination of the taxonomy and phylogeny of human and simian Mastadenoviruses: an evolving whole genomes approach, revealing putative zoonosis, anthroponosis, and amphizoonosis

“…Therefore, this report is focused on primate hosts. To date, partial hexon sequences suggest cross-species transmissions may have occurred between human and bat hosts, and human and cat hosts, as noted in a recent literature survey of zoonosis, anthroponosis, and amphizoonosis (Borkenhagen et al, 2019). The hexon gene encodes the major adenovirus capsid protein, and is the source for antigenic variation within the adenoviral population.…”