Gastroenteritis due to adenovirus type 41 in an adult with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

We describe a case of gastroenteritis due to adenovirus type 41 that lasted for 46 days (until the patient's death) in a 56-year-old woman with terminal B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Adenovirus particles were detected by electron microscopy in five stool specimens collected between 5 and 39 days after the onset of the diarrheal illness. The virus was identified as adenovirus type 41 by viral neutralization tests and other assays. We discuss the potential pathogenicity of subgenus F adenoviruses in immunocompromised patients.