DNA sequence analysis of an avian adenovirus terminal protein precursor

Pathogenicity and complete genome sequence of a fowl adenovirus serotype 8 isolate

In this study we determined and analyzed the complete nucleotide sequence of the genome of a fowl adenovirus serotype 8 (FAdV-8) isolate and examined its pathogenicity in chickens. The full genome of FAdV-8 was 44,055 nucleotides in length with a similar organization to that of FAdV-1 and FAdV-9 genomes. No regions homologous to early regions E1, E3 and E4 of mastadenoviruses were recognized. Along with FAdV-9, FAdV-8 has only one fiber gene and with regard to sequence composition and genome organization, FAdV-8 is closer to FAdV-9 than to FAdV-1. Moreover, our findings suggest that FAdV-1 of species Fowl adenovirus A as the current type species despite its historical priority is not representative of the genus Aviadenovirus, and that FAdV-8 or FAdV-9 in species Fowl adenovirus E and Fowl adenovirus D, respectively, would be more suitable for that designation. Additionally, pathogenicity of FAdV-8 was studied in specific pathogen free chickens following oral and intramuscular inoculations. Despite lack of clinical signs and pathological changes virus was found in tissues and cloacal swabs of all birds with the highest viral copy numbers present in the cecal tonsils. The highest virus titers in the feces for orally and intramuscularly inoculated chickens were recorded at days 10 and 3 post-infection, respectively.

Sequence Analysis of the Left End of Fowl Adenovirus Genomes

Nucleotide sequence analysis of the left end of the genome of fowl adenoviruses (FAdV) representing species group C (FAdV-4 and -10), D (FAdV-2) and E (FAdV-8) were carried out, and the sequence data was compared to those of FAdV-1 (FAdV-A) and FAdV-9 (FAdV-D). The viruses were propagated in chicken hepatoma cell line for viral DNA isolation. Restriction endonuclease analysis was performed followed by hybridization with two DNA probes representing the left end of FAdV-9. The identified fragments were sequenced, and the generated data were compared with the GenBank database. Nucleotide sequence homology and amino acid sequence identities were high between members of the same species group, FAdV-2 and -9, and FAdV-4 and -10, whereas different degrees of variations were observed among all FAdVs. Gene arrangement and position of ORFs at the left end of FAdV genomes were largely conserved suggesting similar gene functions. All previously characterized left end ORFs in CELO virus and FAdV-9 were found in all analyzed FAdVs. However, ORF 1C was absent in FAdV-4 and -10, but additional ORFs, most likely corresponding to duplicates of ORF 14, were observed in these viruses.