IDENTIFICATION OF HELODERMATID ADENOVIRUS 2 IN A CAPTIVE CENTRAL BEARDED DRAGON (POGONA VITTICEPS), WILD GILA MONSTERS (HELODERMA SUSPECTUM), AND A DEATH ADDER (ACANTHOPHIS ANTARCTICUS)

Abstract

Adenoviruses are medium-sized DNA viruses with very high host fidelity. The phylogenetic relationships of the adenoviruses strongly resemble that of their hosts, consistent with evolutionary codivergence. The genus <i>Atadenovirus</i> appears to have evolved in squamate hosts. Perhaps the best known of the squamate adenoviruses is Agamid adenovirus 1 (AgAdV1), found most commonly in central bearded dragons (<i>Pogona vitticeps</i>), where it is a prevalent cause of hepatitis/enteritis, especially in young animals. All previous reports of adenoviruses in bearded dragons were AgAdV1. Helodermatid adenovirus 2 (HeAdV2) was first seen in Mexican beaded lizards (<i>Heloderma horridus</i>). Subsequently, partial adenoviral polymerase gene sequence from a western bearded dragon (<i>Pogona minor</i>) in Australia was found to share 99% nucleotide homology with HeAdV2. This article reports the discovery of a virus identical to HeAdV2 in a captive central bearded dragon in Florida and wild Gila monsters (<i>Heloderma suspectum</i>) in Arizona. Additionally, a partial adenoviral polymerase gene sharing 98% homology with this HeAdV2 was discovered in a death adder (<i>Acanthophis antarcticus</i>) in Australia. These findings call into question the provenance of HeAdV2. Further studies of atadenoviral host range, diversity of adenoviruses in captive animals, and characterization of adenoviruses from wild squamates are indicated.