Experimental adenovirus infection in calves

Abstract

Twenty-four dairy calves ranging in age from six to 15 weeks were divided so that 10 were inoculated with bovine adenovirus serotype 1 (BA-1), eight were inoculated with bovine adenovirus serotype 3 (BA-3), and six were inoculated with control tissue culture and fluids.Post-inoculation serum samples from most of the calves presented evidence of adenovirus infection, but none of the animals exhibited signs of respiratory or enteric disease. Histopathological examination of lung tissue was not considered to be specific for adenovirus pneumonia, but was characterized by peribronchial cuffing and slight aspiration pneumonia. BA-1 was not isolated from any of the inoculated calves, and BA-3 was only recovered from the feces of two animals. Reasons for the discrepancy between these results and those of other workers are considered, and the etiology of peribronchial cuffing is briefly discussed.