Necrotizing Ventriculitis in Fledgling Chimney Swifts (Chaetura Pelagica) Associated With a Novel Adenovirus, Chimney Swift Adenovirus-1 (CsAdV-1)

Abstract

Five chimney swift fledglings died following a progressive loss of appetite and condition while being cared for by an experienced wildlife rehabilitator. All animals had severe necrotizing and heterophilic ventriculitis, with myriad epithelial cells characterized by karyomegaly with intranuclear inclusion bodies. Transmission electron microscopy showed distention of epithelial cell nuclei and chromatin peripheralization by nonenveloped, icosahedral, 75- to 85-nm-diameter virions. Degenerate nested PCR for a highly conserved region of the adenovirus DNA polymerase gene was positive. BLAST analysis of the amplicon sequence indicated the presence of a novel adenovirus, with 74% homology to Antarctic penguin adenoviruses and 72% homology to a bat adenovirus, at low query coverages of only 65% and 63%, respectively. BLAST analysis of the predicted amino acid sequence generated the highest scores for squamate adenoviruses at 100% query coverage. Based on phylogenetic analysis of the partial amino acid sequence of the DNA polymerase, the chimney swift virus was a novel adenovirus most closely related to the Atadenovirus genus. Using a probe based on the novel viral sequence, DNA in situ hybridization identified viral nucleic acid in the nucleus. While the tentatively named chimney swift adenovirus-1 (CsAdV-1) is so far classified with the Atadenoviruses, it is relatively divergent from other members of that genus and may represent the first identified member of a new genus of Adenoviruses.

A screening of wild bird samples enhances our knowledge about the biodiversity of avian adenoviruses

“…Another phenomenon, most possibly caused by the current lack of data from closely related viral strains, is that of the chimney swift atadenovirus (Needle et al 2019 ). Though monophyletic with atadenoviruses, it is placed on the most basal branch of this genus, far from the well-demarcated three clades of other avian atadenoviruses.…”

Adenoviruses across the animal kingdom: a walk in the zoo

“…PsAdV‐3 was isolated from southern mealy parrot . Atadenovirus sequences were obtained from the droppings of long‐tailed finches , as well as from chimney swift fledglings with necrotizing ventriculitis .…”

Concurrent Infection of Skunk Adenovirus-1, Listeria monocytogenes, and a Regionally Specific Clade of Canine Distemper Virus in One Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and Concurrent Listeriosis and Canine Distemper in a Second Gray Fox

“…A negative result for the specific CAV-2 PCR prompted the use of a generic adenovirus PCR assay, performed with slight modifications as described previously [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Tissue from animal 2 was not submitted for adenovirus PCR, as there were no lesions or intranuclear inclusions indicative of adenovirus infection in this animal.…”

“… Resistome and virulome of Listeria monocytogenes isolates from one fox infected with L. monocytogenes , CDV, and SkAdV-1 (case 1 = 1801300025), and another infected with L. monocytogenes and CDV (case 2 = 1904260017). ABRicate was used to determine the resistance and virulence profiles by comparing resistance sequences in the Resfinder database using BLAST+ [ 8 ], and comparing virulence genes with the VFDB database. Genes were characterized as present (when 95% or more of the gene’s nucleotide sequence was present in the target genome with at least 95% sequence similarity), putative (<95% sequence coverage in the genome with 95% sequence similarity), or absent (0% coverage with 95% sequence similarity).…”