Magic™ Mouse Anti-Adenovirus monoclonal antibody, clone 2F463

We present the first complete genome sequence of Odocoileus hemionus deer adenovirus 1 (OdAdV-1). This virus can cause sporadic haemorrhagic disease in cervids, although epizootics with high mortality have occurred in California. OdAdV-1 has been placed in the genus Atadenovirus, based on partial hexon, pVIII and fibre genes. Ten field isolates recovered from naturally infected mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginiana) and moose (Alces alces) from Wyoming, black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) from California, and Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) from Colorado and Washington state were sequenced. The genome lengths ranged from 30 620 to 30 699 bp, contained the predicted proteins and gene organization typical of members of genus Atadenovirus, and had a high percentage of A/T nucleotides (66.7 %). Phylogenic analysis found that the closest ancestry was with ruminant atadenoviruses, while a divergence of the hexon, polymerase and penton base proteins of more than 15% supports classification as a new species. Genetic global comparison between the 10 isolates found an overall 99% identity, but greater divergence was found between those recovered from moose and elk as compared to deer, and a single variable region contained most of these differences. Our findings demonstrate that OdAdV-1 is highly conserved between 10 isolates recovered from multiple related cervid species, but genotypic differences, largely localized to a variable region, define two strains. We propose that the virus type name be changed to cervid adenovirus 1, with the species name Cervid atadenovirus A. Sequence data were used to develop molecular assays for improved detection and genotyping.

The authors continuously monitor randomly-collected animal samples for the assessment of adenovirus diversity and to study viral evolution. In the present work, the results of molecular (PCR) screenings of dead or live specimens of different psittacine species are described. Based on the sequence of two fragments amplified from the viral DNA polymerase and the hexon gene, apparently identical siadenoviruses were detected in six dead birds of a domestic breeder, namely in the internal organs of 3 budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), a cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), an eastern rosella (Platycercus eximius) and a scarlet-chested parrot (Neophema splendida), as well as in the throat-swab of a live, red-crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) that was confiscated at the state border and transferred to a zoo. Sequence analyses and phylogenetic calculations confirmed that the detected viruses are identical to psittacine adenovirus type 2 (PsAdV-2). PsAdV-2 was first detected in a plum-headed parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala) and in an umbrella cockatoo (Cacatua alba) in the United States. Thus, the present report is the first description of PsAdV-2 in Hungary and also in Europe. The host range of PsAdV-2 includes different bird species, a trait characteristic for avian siadenoviruses. Considering the results of the present survey, the number of parrot species that are potential hosts for PsAdV-2 increased to seven.