Adenovirus infection and cytopathic alterations of human cervical epithelial cells in vitro.

The effect of adenovirus infection was studied in monolayer cultures of human ecto- and endocervical epithelial cells. In both types of cultures adenovirus type 1 resulted in a slowly progressing lytic infection with persistent production of infectious virus, viral antigens and of cytopathic alterations in a fraction of cells. The changes were similar in ecto- and endocervical epithelial cells. Although many of the alterations detected may represent unspecific lesions, nuclear changes consisting of lobulated nuclear inclusion bodies seemed to be characteristic. These alterations differ from those observed during infection with the herpes group of viruses and may serve as indicators of cervical adenovirus infection in cytologic screening.