adenovirus /ad′ənōvī″rəs/ [Gk, aden + L, virus, poison] , any one of more than 55 medium-sized viruses of the Adenoviridae family, pathogenic to humans, that cause conjunctivitis, upper respiratory tract infection, cystitis, or GI infection. The viral genome is linear, double-stranded DNA of varying sizes (26-48 kb). After the acute and symptomatic period of illness, the virus may persist in a latent stage in the tonsils, adenoids, and other lymphoid tissue. Compare rhinovirus. −adenoviral, adj.
