title: Molecular confirmation of an adenovirus in brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula).
abstract: Partial genome characterisation of a non-cultivable marsupial adenovirus is described. Adenovirus-like particles were found by electron microscopy (EM) in the intestinal contents of brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in New Zealand. Using degenerate PCR primers complementary to the most conserved genome regions of adenoviruses, the complete nucleotide sequence of the penton base gene, and partial nucleotide sequences of the DNA polymerase, hexon, and pVII genes were obtained. Phylogenetic analysis of the penton base gene strongly suggested that the brushtail possum adenovirus (candidate PoAdV-1) belongs to the recently proposed genus Atadenovirus. Sequence analysis of the PCR products amplified from the intestinal contents of brushtail possums originating from different geographical regions of New Zealand identified a single genotype. This is the first report of molecular confirmation of an adenovirus in a marsupial.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand. d.m.thomson@massey.ac.nz
authors.forename: Darelle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meers
authors.forename: Balázs
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Harrach
mesh_terms: D000257:Adenoviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002213:Capsid / Q000235:genetics; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004279:DNA, Viral; D017921:Mastadenovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009893:Opossums / Q000821:virology*; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004279:DNA, Viral; C018315:hexon capsid protein, Adenovirus; C043322:penton protein, adenovirus