A simple and rapid method for typing adenoviruses 40 and 41 without cultivation.

Abstract Fastidious adenovirus DNA in faecal samples obtained from children with acute gastroenteritis was extracted by a simple and rapid method. The extracted viral DNA was characterized by restriction endonuclease Smal treatment. Fastidious adenovirus DNA was detected in 58 of 65 cases. If faecal samples were too small it was not always possible to identify virus DNA.