BOVINE ADENOVIRUS TYPE-10 - PROPERTIES OF VIRUSES ISOLATED FROM CASESOF BOVINE HEMORRHAGIC ENTEROCOLITIS

The isolation, serological classification and growth properties of ade noviruses isolated from fatal cases of haemorrhagic enterocolitis in c alves are described. Four viruses, from different submissions, were is olated in cultures of calf testis cells and were identified as adenovi ruses by electron microscopy. The four isolates were serologically ide ntical and were classified as bovine adenovirus type 10 in cross-neutr alisation tests with other bovine, ovine and porcine adenovirus specie s. Their growth in the nucleus of infected cells was accompanied by th e production of typical adenovirus-associated inclusions. A serologica l survey to determine the incidence of infection with the virus in cat tle in Northern Ireland demonstrated the presence of low levels of neu tralising antibodies in 55 per cent of cattle over two years old, alth ough only 8 per cent were positive at a 1/500 dilution of serum.