PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND CYTOPATHOGENICITY OF AN ADENOVIRUS-LIKE AGENT ISOLATED FROM CORN SNAKE (ELAPHE-GUTTATA)

A virus isolated from the internal organs of a moribund com snake (Ela phe guttata) replicated in reptilian cell cultures (IgH-2, TH-1 cells) between 10 and 30-degrees-C. Highest infectivity titers of 10(5.5) TC ID50/ml were obtained in IgH-2 cells at 25-degrees-C. Infected IgH-2 c ells showed the development of three morphologically different intranu clear inclusion bodies. During viral assembly the particles formed typ ical crystalline aggregates in the nucleus. About 64 h after infection progressive desintegration of the nuclear membrane was evident and vi rus particles were released into the cytoplasm. Different fish cell li nes (CLC, CHSE-214, BF-2, PG, RTG-2) were not capable of propagating t he virus. The DNA containing agent proved to be stable at pH 3, more o r less at pH 12 and to treatment with chloroform, but it was rapidly i nactivated at 56-degrees-C. Electron microscopy revealed nonenveloped icosahedral particles with a diameter of 65-70 nm.