title: Prevalence of neutralising antibodies against adenoviruses in lizards and snakes.
abstract: Adenoviruses (AdVs) are relatively common in lizards and snakes, and several genetically distinct AdVs have been isolated in cell culture. The aims of this study were to examine serological relationships among lizard and snake AdVs and to determine the frequency of AdV infections in these species. Isolates from a boa constrictor (Boa constrictor), a corn snake (Pantherophis gutattus) and a central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), and two isolates from helodermatid lizards (Heloderma horridum and H. suspectum) were used in neutralisation tests for the detection of antibodies in plasma from 263 lizards from seven families (including 12 species) and from 141 snakes from four families (including 28 species) from the USA and Europe. Most lizard and snake samples had antibodies against a range of AdV isolates, indicating that AdV infection is common among these squamates. Neutralisation tests with polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits demonstrated serological cross-reactivity between both helodermatid lizard isolates. However, squamate plasma showed different reactions to each of these lizard isolates in neutralisation tests.
authors.affiliation: Fachgebiet für Umwelt und Tierhygiene, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 30, Stuttgart 70599, Germany. Electronic address: inna-ball@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Inna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Auffangstation für Reptilien, Munich 80539, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ofner
authors.affiliation: VCA Mesa Animal Hospital, Mesa, AZ 85201, USA.
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Funk
authors.affiliation: Griffin Exotics, Kannapolis, NC 28083, USA.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.affiliation: Tierpraxis Dr. Riedel, Grempstr.28, Frankfurt 60487, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Riedel
authors.affiliation: Institute for Crop Science, Bioinformatics Unit, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstrasse 23, Stuttgart 70599, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Möhring
authors.affiliation: Fachgebiet für Umwelt und Tierhygiene, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 30, Stuttgart 70599, Germany.
authors.forename: Rachel E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Marschang
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D000257:Adenoviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D008116:Lizards; D008297:Male; D012911:Snakes
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing
keywords: Atadenoviruses; Lizard; Neutralisation test; Reptile; Serology; Snake; Squamate