Animal adenoviruses

Since the first report on adenoviruses in the early 1950s, more than a hundred serotypes of this virus have been reported from reptiles, fish, mammalian, and avian species. These viruses exhibit different lineages based on the differences noticed in the genes located in the terminal regions. Adenoviruses are grouped into five genera including Mastadenovirus, Aviadenovirus, Atadenovirus, Siadenovirus, and Ichtadenovirus. Recently, a sixth genus, Testadenovirus, is proposed to include adenoviruses from turtles. Bats have been identified as prospective reservoir hosts of emerging and re-emerging diseases and playing an important role in the evolution of adenoviruses. This chapter details the information on epidemiology, clinical signs, pathology, diagnosis, prevention, and control aspects of various species-specific adenoviruses affecting bovine, ovine, porcine, canine, and equine that are reported from both healthy animals and those suffering from diarrhea and pneumoenteritis. There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for adenoviruses.