Phylogenetic and pathogenic characterization of novel adenoviruses isolated from long-tailed ducks (Clangula hyemalis).
Novel adenoviruses were isolated from a long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis) mortality event near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska in 2000. The long-tailed duck adenovirus genome was approximately 27 kb. A 907 bp hexon gene segment was used to design primers specific for the long-tailed duck adenovirus. Nineteen isolates were phylogenetically characterized based on portions of their hexon gene and 12 were most closely related to Goose adenovirus A. The remaining 7 shared no hexon sequences with any known adenoviruses. Experimental infections of mallards with a long-tailed duck reference adenovirus caused mild lymphoid infiltration of the intestine and paint brush hemorrhages of the mucosa and dilation of the intestine. This study shows novel adenoviruses from long-tailed ducks are diverse and provides further evidence that they should be considered in cases of morbidity and mortality in sea ducks. Conserved and specific primers have been developed that will help screen sea ducks for adenoviral infections.
Alaska SeaLife Center, P.O. Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664, USA. Electronic address: katrinac@alaskasealife.org.
Katrina L
KL
Counihan
National Wildlife Health Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 6006 Schroeder Road, Madison, WI 53711, USA; Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Wisconsin, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1102, USA; College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.
Lee F
LF
Skerratt
National Wildlife Health Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 6006 Schroeder Road, Madison, WI 53711, USA.
J Christian
JC
Franson
Alaska SeaLife Center and School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664, USA.
Tuula E
TE
Hollmén
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004372:Ducks / Q000821:virology*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D004279:DNA, Viral
Anas platyrhynchos; Avian adenovirus; Clangula hyemalis; Enteritis; Long-tailed duck; Mallard; Mortality; Phylogeny; Polymerase chain reaction; Serology