Human adenovirus 41

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Human adenovirus 41 (HAdV-F41) is a type of enteric adenovirus, a nonenveloped virus with double-stranded DNA. It belongs to the Adenoviridae family, in the Mastadenovirus genus, and is part of the Mastadenovirus faecale species. It is related to Human adenovirus 40 (HAdV-F40).

What it is
- HAdV-41 is an enteric virus that mainly affects the digestive system.
- It can cause gastroenteritis, especially in very young children, with symptoms similar to infections from rotavirus or norovirus.
- In some people, the virus may be present in the gut without causing symptoms.

How it is detected
- HAdV-41 cannot be reliably detected by traditional cell culture isolation.
- It is usually found using molecular-based tests (like PCR) or enzyme immunoassays (ELISA).

What it does (pathology)
- The virus targets the gastrointestinal tract and can cause gastroenteritis in young children.
- Symptoms can resemble other common causes of gastroenteritis and may include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and stomach cramps.
- In some cases, the virus may be present without showing symptoms.
- In 2021–2022, several reports noted the virus in children with hepatitis of unknown origin, but it is not yet clear whether HAdV-41 caused those cases.

How common it is
- Globally, HAdV-41 is a significant cause of gastroenteritis, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
- It is less common than rotavirus and norovirus as a cause of gastroenteritis.
- Type 40 (HAdV-40) is less common than type 41.

Classification and history
- HAdV-41 is part of the Adenoviridae family and the Mastadenovirus genus.
- It was first identified in 1983.
- It is one of the enteric adenoviruses known to infect humans.

In short, Human adenovirus 41 is a gut-targeting virus that commonly causes gastroenteritis in young children, detected mainly by molecular tests rather than culture, and has been studied for potential links to unexplained hepatitis in children, though causality is not yet proven.