Pathogenicity and Complete Genome Characterization of Fowl Adenoviruses Isolated from Chickens Associated with Inclusion Body Hepatitis and Hydropericardium Syndrome in China

Abstract

In this study, we determined and genetically characterized three fowl adenoviruses isolated from chickens with inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) and hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) in China and assessed their pathogenicity. The full genome of HBQ12, BJH13 and JSJ13 was found to be 44,081, 43,966 and 43,756 nucleotides long, respectively. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain HBQ12 and BJH13 were clustered together belonging to fowl adenoviruses D species and serotyped as FAdV-11, whereas strain JSJ13 was classified into fowl adenoviruses C species and serotyped as FAdV-4. To our knowledge, this is the first report of FAdV-4 strain circulating in China. The pathogenicity test showed that mortality for chickens infected with HBQ12 and JSJ13 within 21 days post infection (dpi) was 8.6% and 28.6%, respectively. Necropsy displayed mild or severe hepatitis and hydropericardium at 3 and 5 dpi as well as dead chickens. Viral DNA was detected in almost all tissues sampled from dead chickens. These results revealed that fowl adenovirus strains HBQ12 and JSJ13 are capable of causing IBH and HPS in chickens, indicating that preventive measures against FAdV infection on poultry farms should be implemented in China.

Genetic characterization of novel fowl aviadenovirus 4 isolates from outbreaks of hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome in broiler chickens in China

“…The G+C content (54.87% for HNJZ, SXCZ, JSXZ and AHBZ and 54.86% for SDDZ) was similar to those of other reported FAdV-4 strains, including ON1, KR5, JSJ13 and MX-SHP95 (54.63% to 54.88%). The gene order and shared open reading frames (ORFs) were similar to those of other reported FAdV-4 strains, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 except that there were deletions in the 22 kDa protein, ORF19, ORF27 and ORF19A (Figure 2). …”

“…Until now, the complete nucleotide sequences of FAdV genomes were only available for FAdV-1 (CELO virus, species FAdV-A), FAdV-4 (strains ON1, KR5, JSJ13, MX-SHP95, HB1510), FAdV-5 (strain 340, FAdV-B), FAdV-8 (strain HG, FAdV-E) and FAdV-9 (strain A-2A, FAdV-D). 31, 32, 33, 37, 38, 39, 40 In the present study, the whole-genome sequences of five highly pathogenic FAdV-4 isolates have augmented the current knowledge of FAdV genomes and their pathogenesis.…”

“…32 When compared with the FAdV-4 strains reported earlier, that is, the highly pathogenic MX-SHP95 strain, the non-pathogenic KR5 strain and the ON1 strain, 31, 33, 35 nucleotide identities of 98.8%, 98.3% and 98.5% were observed for the complete genomes, 95.8%, 96.7% and 95.7% identities were observed for fiber 1, 97.2%, 95.9% and 95.8% identities for fiber 2, 98.6%, 98.9% and 98.7% identities for hexon, and 99.2%, 99.0% and 98.9% identities for the penton base.…”

Hydropericardium Hepatitis Syndrome Emerged in Cherry Valley Ducks in China

“…FAdV‐4 isolates were the major causative agents of HHS and highly virulent for broilers, compared with other serotype FAdVs (belonging to the genus Aviadenovirus ) which caused birds with IBH. The disease was first isolated from broiler flocks in Jiangsu province in China during 2012 to 2013 (Zhao et al., ). Currently, HHS is becoming one of the major infectious diseases that lead to huge economic losses or risk to poultry industry in China.…”

Molecular epidemiology of hydropericardium syndrome outbreak-associated serotype 4 fowl adenovirus isolates in central China

“…Fowl adenoviruses (FAdVs) are non-enveloped double stranded DNA-viruses and belong to the genus Aviadenovirus, family Adenovirida together with other four genera: Mastadenovirus, Atadenovirus, Siadenovirus, and Ichtadenovirus [11]. Based on restriction enzyme digest pattern and serum cross-neutralization test, FAdVs have been grouped into 5 species (FAdV-A to FAdV-E) with 12 serotypes (FAdV-1 to 8a and 8b to 11) [12].…”