| dc.description.abstract | Among reptiles, adenoviruses (AdVs) have most often been identified in
squamates (lizards and snakes) associated with gastroenteritis and hepatitis or central
nervous signs. These viruses have been isolated and/or genetically characterised only
in a very few cases. We detected and characterised 5 types (9 sequence variants) of
squamatid atadenoviruses (AtAdVs). From bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps), an
emerald monitor (Varanus prasinus) and an asp viper (Vipera aspis) only PCR
detection was successful. However, from samples of two Gila monsters (Heloderma
suspectum) and a Mexican beaded lizard (H. horridum), AdVs could be propagated on
cell culture, yielding the first report of lizard AdV isolates (type 1 and 2; LAdV-1 & -2).
Partial genome analysis of LAdV-1 & -2, from these two closely related hosts, along
with the phylogenetic analysis of the other detected types, contributed to the
hypothesis of coevolution and reptilian origin of genus Atadenovirus members. The
partial genomes (17 kb, 13 kb) of the two LAdVs were most alike each other, and
revealed highest similarity to the snake AdV-1 sequence from GenBank. Some genes
found at the right end of these genomes, however, differed significantly from those in
SnAdV-1. Most interesting of these differences was the presence of a second fiber
gene in both LAdV types. Apparently both fibers are functional, and thus LAdVs are the
first AtAdVs reported with more than one fiber. | en |
