Fowl adenovirus strains 1/A and 11/D isolated from birds with reovirus infection

Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) is, in some cases, a fatal disease affecting fowl by adenovirus strains which are subdivided into 5 species (A-E). In the current study, we investigated sequences from the Loop L1 region of the hexon gene of sequences of adenovirus field stains 1/A and 11/D isolated from a poultry flock co-infected with IBH and avian reoviruses ARVs. In early 2021, an epidemiologic survey highlighted the coinfection adenoviruses with other viruses (orthoreovirus infection) as being particularly deleterious within the poultry industry. Here, we investigated the Loop L1 HVR1-4 region of the hexon gene with relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) designation and RSCU inclusive of all the mutations. These are the first results that have been presented on fowl adenovirus species A and D with simultaneous reovirus infection in 38-days old broiler chickens in Poland.

Sequencing Coding Region and in Silico Structural Analysis of Protein Hexon of HAdV-3 Causing Conjunctivitis in Vietnam

Human adenovirus (HAdVs) are responsible for about 65-90% of viral conjunctivitis. Understandings of HAdVs bring promises in prevention, treatments, and biological preparations. However, thorough researches on structural proteins of HAdVs are still limited in Vietnam. In this study, we have sequenced the entire coding gene of protein hexon from HAdV-3 causing conjunctivitis in Vietnam and compared with the reference sequence in NCBI database. We detected 42 DNA variants, of which, 11 resulted in amino acid substitutions. Simulation of HAdV-3 hexon structure showed that all 11 substitutions located in crucial positions. This result revealed high risks from hexon gene variants of HAdV-3 enhancing its life span, virulence, and ability to avoid the host immune system.

Genotypes and phylogenetic analysis of adenovirus in children with respiratory infection in Buenos Aires, Argentina (2000–2018)

Human adenoviruses (HAdV) are one of the most frequent causes of respiratory infections around the world, causing mild to severe disease. In Argentina, many studies focused on the association of HAdV respiratory infection with severe disease and fatal outcomes leading to the discovery in 1984 of a genomic variant 7h associated with high fatality. Although several molecular studies reported the presence of at least 4 HAdV species (B, C, D and E) in Argentina, few sequences were available in the databases. In this study, sequences from the hexon gene region were obtained from 141 patients as a first approach to assess the genetic diversity of HAdVs circulating in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences and others recovered from public databases confirmed the circulation of the four above-mentioned species represented by 11 genotypes, with predominance in species B and C and shifts in their proportion in the studied period (2000 to 2018). The variants detected in Argentina, for most of the genotypes, were similar to those already described in other countries. However, uncommon lineages belonging to genotypes C2, C5 and E4 were detected, which might indicate the circulation of local variants and will deserve further studies of whole-genome sequences.

Prevalence and Molecular Diagnosis of Hydropericardium Hepatitis Syndrome in the Poultry Population of Mizoram, India

Background: Hydropericardium hepatitis syndrome (HHS) is an important emerging disease having economic importance and affecting particularly broiler chickens. Although the disease has been reported as a major problem in almost all the regions of India, not much is known from the North Eastern states of India. The present study was aimed to study prevalence, clinico-pathology and molecular diagnosis of HHS in poultry population of Mizoram. Methods: A poultry population of total 2430 from 15 different farms located in different districts of Mizoram were studied for outbreaks of HHS. Clinical manifestation of the disease in affected birds was recorded and pathological studies were carried out in total 190 dead birds. The outbreaks were further confirmed by detection of hexon gene of FAdV in tissue lesions by PCR. Result: Outbreak of HHS was recorded in 5 (33.3%) different broiler farms with sudden onset of mortality (18 to 25.2%) in broiler birds of 4 to 6 weeks of age. Pathological studies revealed characteristic lesions comprising hydro pericardium, hepatitis and basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies in hepatocytes. Detection of hexon gene of FAdV in tissue lesions by PCR assay has further confirmed the outbreaks. This study reports for the first time, high prevalence of HHS in poultry population of Mizoram.

Isolation and molecular characterization of fowl aviadenovirus associated with inclusion body hepatitis from poultry in Banten and West Java, Indonesia

Background and Aim: Fowl avidenoviruses (FAdVs) are generally considered ubiquitous, but certain serotypes and strains are known to be associated with primary diseases, such as inclusion body hepatitis (IBH). Since 2018, the outbreak of IBH has been reported in part provinces of Indonesia. This study aimed to isolate and molecularly characterize the FAdV from Banten and West Java Provinces of Indonesia and described the phylogenetic relationship with the FAdV that has been characterized in other countries. Materials and Methods: A total of 25 FAdV archive samples have been collected from January to August 2019 from clinical cases of FAdV infection in Banten and West Java Provinces, Indonesia. Collected samples were inoculated in 10-day-old specific-pathogenic-free chicken embryonated eggs. Hexon gene of FAdV was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a primer set from previous study. To gain a better understanding of the FAdV genetic properties and construct the phylogeny tree, the PCR products were sequenced and subjected to a BLAST search and inferred using the neighbor-joining method by bootstrap test 1000×. Results: FAdV-D and FAdV-E are present in Banten, Indonesia. The phylogenetic analysis of 850 nucleotides that encode 289 amino acid of the partial hexon gene shows that the isolates Broiler/MSL/Ciputat-149/18, Broiler/MSL/Lebak-151/18, and Broiler/MSL/Ciputat-29/19 have 100% homology with FAdV-E TR/BVKE/R/D-1 from Turkey, whereas the isolates Layer/MSL/Ciputat-20/19 and Broiler/MSL/Ciputat-30/19 have 100% homology with FAdV-D strain 685 from Canada. Conclusion: The present study provides updates of the circulating FAdV in commercial poultry flocks in Banten and West Java Provinces, Indonesia. Since the FAdV vaccine was unavailable in Indonesia, this result might be used as guidance to select a proper FAdV vaccine strain. Our result indicates that at least two FAdV species were circulating among poultry in Banten and West Java Provinces, Indonesia; they are FAdV-D and FAdV-E.

Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of fowl adenovirus serotype-4 from Guangdong Province, China

Aim: Our aim in this study was to isolate potentially novel strains of fowl adenovirus serotype-4 (FAdV-4) that is currently circulating in broiler chicken flocks in Guangdong Province, China, and to compare nucleotide and amino acid (AA) sequences of their respective hexon genes. Materials and Methods: The experiment was carried out on poultry farms experiencing outbreaks of FAdV-4-associated hydropericardium syndrome (HPS). Tissue samples from the hearts and livers of deceased chickens were screened for FAdV-4 infection using hexon gene-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: New virus isolates were used to infect 7-day-old chicks, which went onto reproduce typical HPS signs. The hypervariable region of the FAdV-4 hexon gene was PCR-amplified and sequenced. The hexon nucleotide and deduced AA sequence identities were 99.8-99.9% and 99.5-99.8%, respectively, among the four novel isolates. In addition, the new isolates were 97-100% and 96.4-99.9% identical to the nucleotide and deduced AA sequences, respectively, of FAdV-4 hexon genes available in the National Center for Biotechnology Information GenBank database. Phylogenetic analyses, based on the hexon gene sequence, revealed that the new isolates, clustered with FAdV-C; the FAdV-A, FAdV-B, FAdV-D, and FAdV-E viruses, were more distantly related. Conclusion: New FAdV-4 isolates from Guangdong Province are similar to those identified in other regions of the world. This information provides critical insight into HPS epidemiology and provides a perspective for monitoring outbreaks and developing strategies for disease prevention.

The recovery and molecular identification of HAdV-D17 in raw sewage and mussel samples collected in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa

Human adenoviruses (HAdV) are a common cause of clinical infections in South Africa. However, there is a lack of information regarding the prevalence and molecular identification of this virus in the environment. The objective of this study was to investigate the recovery and molecular identification of HAdV in sewage and mussel samples. All samples were subjected to transmission electron microscopy, viral DNA extraction and nested PCR amplification using adenovirus-specific primers targeting a conserved region of the hexon gene. Amplicons were cloned and sequenced and BLAST analysis revealed a closest matched sequence (98% identity) belonging to HAdV-D17.

Investigational approach to adenoviral conjunctivitis: comparison of three diagnostic tests using a Bayesian latent class model

Introduction: Highly contagious adenoviral conjunctivitis represents 15-70% of all conjunctivitis worldwide. Human adenovirus (hAdV) serotypes 3,4,7,8,19 and 37 contributes to 89% of all adenoviral conjunctivitis. Accurate and rapid diagnosis of adenoviral infections at serotype level could prevent misdiagnosis, spread of disease, unnecessary antibiotic use and increased treatment costs. Methodology: Sixty-two suspected viral conjunctivitis cases were recruited from November2013-January2015. Swabs collected from inferior palpebral conjunctiva and processed for viral culture (Hep2 cell line), immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (targeting hexon gene). Serotype 3,4,7,8,19 and 37 identification was carried out with an optimized multiplex-PCR (based on hypervariable region of hexon gene) and confirmed by sequence analysis. Bayesian Latent Class Model (LCM) analysis was used to compare sensitivity and specificity of three tests. Results: Adenovirus was detected in 54.8% (34/62) of cases by combination of all three methods. Culture was positive in 23/34 cases (67.6%). PCR and IFA detected adenovirus in 24 (70.5%) and 21 (61.7%) cases respectively. LCM analysis revealed, sensitivity and specificity of PCR, Culture and IFA was 77.8% and 92.4%; 72.2% and 90.8%; 67.6% and 92.9% respectively. Serotyping by multiplex-PCR showed, two cases each were hAdV3 and hAdV4, 18 hAdV8 and two remained unidentified. Results of Multiplex-PCR and sequence analysis showed 100% concordance Conclusion: LCM analysis revealed, PCR is the most appropriate method for identification. Multiplex-PCR is a simple and rapid method (serotypes identification within two days); owing its short turnaround time and accuracy, it can be used as a diagnostic tool for surveillance of adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis.