BOVINE ADENOVIRUS TYPE-10 IDENTIFIED IN FATAL CASES OF ADENOVIRUS-ASSOCIATED ENTERIC DISEASE IN CATTLE BY IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION

A severe, naturally occurring enteric disease of cattle in which adeno virus inclusions are present in the intestinal vascular endothelium ha s been recognized in several countries; three different adenovirus ser otypes have been isolated from affected animals. An in situ hybridizat ion technique for the detection of bovine adenoviral DNA was developed and applied to tissue from 13 cattle in Northern Ireland diagnosed to have the disease. Bovine adenovirus serotype 10 (BAV-10) was identifi ed in the vascular inclusions of all cattle, providing strong evidence that adenoviral enteric vascular disease in cattle is associated with this serotype. The existence of BAV-10 has only recently been recogni zed. The first molecular biology-based technique for the diagnosis of BAV-10 infection is described. The animals in the present study are th e first in which BAV-10 has had a confirmed role in a pathologic proce ss.