A new serotype adenovirus isolated from a goat in the United States

Respiratory and Neurologic Disease Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA 50010, USA.

A virus (T94-0353) isolated from the small intestine of a 3-week-old kid with diarrhea and serous ocular and nasal discharge was identified as an adenovirus based on morphologic and physicochemical characteristics. Neutralization tests and restriction endonuclease analysis comparing the caprine adenovirus with the prototype bovine and ovine adenovirus serotypes and a previously isolated caprine adenovirus showed that the caprine isolate was antigenically distinct, produced a unique restriction pattern compared with currently recognized bovine, caprine, and ovine adenoviruses, and represents a new adenovirus type. The role and significance of naturally acquired adenovirus infection in respiratory and enteric disease in goats has not been established. Isolation of adenovirus from goats with disease coupled with seroepidemiologic and pathogenicity studies will help define the role of the adenoviruses in disease production.