Adenovirus
Adenoviruses are double-stranded DNA viruses infecting humans and animals and causing upwards of 50 distinct types of infection, including respiratory diseases, conjunctivitis, and gastroenteritis. These viruses do well outside the body and are hard to wash away; they're generally spread via skin contact, respiratory droplets and ingestion.
Typically, adenovirus infections are marked with wheezing and rales (secondary to a grotesque swelling of the vocal cords), bronchiolitis, and croup. More serious cases can lead to bronchitis and pneumonia. A child who is having difficulty breathing should be taken to the hospital immediately, as this is one of the potential rarer complications of adenovirus.
Unlike many viruses, adenoviruses not only take over the host cell, but also prevent it from dying. It has been able to immortalize cells, generally resulting in the formation of tumors, though this is rarer in humans than some other animals. In most cases, adenoviruses run their course quickly, sickening the host but not killing or permanently harming it. If the host has a weakened or deficient immune system, the severity of the infection is magnified significantly.
In animals, adenoviruses cause a number of diseases: a canine hepatitis that can be fatal, kennel cough, equine adenovirus (causing fatal pneumonia in some Arabian horses), and many others.
Web Resources On Adenovirus
Kid's Health: Adenovirus
The Adenovirus Family
Book Resources On AdenovirusAdenovirus Methods and Protocols by William S. M. Wold
Adenovirus DNA : The Viral Genome and its Expression by Walter Doerfler
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