The hexon gene of avian adenoviruses (formerly group I-III) was sequenced by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) coupled with direct sequencing. Fragments of DNA of the sizes expected were successfully amplified by PCR from all of the group I-III avian adenoviruses with our designed primers. The resulting PCR products contained diagnostically informative hexon sequences that could be used to identify the group and type of avian adenovirus.
Subsequently, nine fowl adenoviruses (FAdVs) were characterised using this method, in samples isolated from chickens with inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) from Japan between 2009 and 2010. Phylogenetic analysis of these isolates comparing sequences of part of the hexon gene including the L1 region revealed that all isolates were almost identical, except one from 2009. This suggests that the FAdVs obtained from chickens with IBH in Japan in 2010 originated from a common ancestor.
(Viral Disease and Epidemiology Research Division)
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- Nakamura K. et al. (2011) Avian Dis. 55:719-723
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