Characterization of a new adenovirus isolated from black-tailed deer in California

An adenovirus associated with systemic and localized vascular damage was de monstrated by transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry in a newly recognized epizootic hemorrhagic disease in California black-tailed deer. In this study, we describe the cultural, physicochemical and serolog ical characteristics of a virus isolated from lung using neonatal white-tai l deer lung and turbinate cell cultures. The virus had the cultural, morpho logical and physicochemical characteristics of members of the Adenoviridae family. The virus would not replicate in low passage fetal bovine, caprine or ovine cells, Antiserum to the deer adenovirus, strain D94-2569. neutrali zed bovine adenovirus type-6 (BAdV-6), BAdV-7, and caprine adenovirus type- 1 (GAdV-1). Antiserum to BAdV-6 did not neutralize the deer adenovirus but antiserum to BAdV-7 and GAdV-1 neutralized the deer adenovirus. Cross-neutr alization with the other bovine, caprine and ovine adenovirus species was n ot observed. Restriction endonuclease patterns generated for the deer adeno virus were unique compared to those for the currently recognized bovine, ca prine and ovine adenovirus types. Amino acid sequence alignments of the hex on gene from the deer adenovirus strain D93-2569 indicate that it is a memb er of the proposed new genus (Atadenovirus) of the Adenoviridae family. Whi le closely related antigenically to BAdV-7 and GAdV-1, the deer adenovirus appear sufficiently distinct culturally and molecularly to justify consider ation as a new adenovirus type.