Parvovirus contamination of a human type 12 adenovirus strain.

A strain of human type 12 adenovirus was found contaminated with virions 27 nm in diameter. After separation by membrane filtration, adsorption on to and elution from erythrocytes and heat treatment, the contaminant was classified as a parvovirus based on its biological and physico-chemical properties and virion morphology. This parvovirus failed to produce interferon and did not affect the interferon-inducing ability of the adenovirus from which it had been separated.