Introduction

Classification

Taxonomy

• Family: Adenoviridae.
• Genus: Mastadenovirus.

Etymology

• Mastadenovirus is derived from the Greek word mastos = breast (hence mammal), and adenovirus named for the human adenoids from which the virus was first isolated.

Active Forms

Clinical Effects

Pathological effects

• Adenoviruses are known to infect many mammals, but there is only report of adenovirus-associated disease in rabbits Adenovirus infection.
• Transmission is likely to be by direct contact as in other species.
• Enteritis Enteritis / enteropathy with profuse diarrhea.
• Thought to predispose to secondary bacterial infections, eg E. coli Escherichia coli.

Control

Control via chemotherapies

• No specific treatments.
• Supportive treatment, including fluid therapy Fluid therapy and antibiotics Therapeutics: antimicrobials for secondary infection may be appropriate.

Control via environment

• Good standards of hygiene and use of disinfectants will reduce the risk of exposure.
• To inactivate, steam clean or treat with strong disinfectant.

Diagnosis

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Bodon L & Prohászka L (1981) Isolation of an adenovirus from rabbits with diarrhoea. Acta Vet Academ Sci Hung 28 (3), 247-255 PubMed.
• Descoteaux J P, Whissel K & Assaf R (1980) Detection of antibody titers to bovine viruses in rabbit sera. Lab Anim Sci 30 (3) 581-582 PubMed.
• Bodon L, Prohaszka L, Adam E et al (1979) Isolation of an adenovirus from rabbits. Acta Vet Academ Sci Hung 27 (1/2), 73-75 VetMedResource.
• Reddick R A & Lefkowitz S S (1969) In vitro immune responses of rabbits with persistent adenovirus type 5 infection. J Immunol 103 (4), 687-694 PubMed.

Other sources of information

• MacLachlan N J & Dubovi E J (2011) Adenoviridae. In: Fenners Veterinary Virology. 4th edn. Academic Press, UK. pp 203-212.
• Baker D G (2003) Pathogens of Rabbits. In: Natural Pathogens of Laboratory Animals: Their Effects on Research. ASM Press, USA. pp 147-148.
• DiGiacomo R R & Mare C J (1994) Viral diseases. In: The Biology of the Laboratory Rabbit. 2nd edn. Academic Press Inc, USA. pp 188.