Isolation and characterisation of sheep adenoviruses

Viruses were isolated from sheep faeces using lamb kidney cultures and examined by negative contrast electron microscopy. Nine agents were morphologically indistinguishable from adenoviruses and their physical and chemical characteristics were also constistent with those of agents of the adenovirus group. Antiserum to 3 of the 9 isolates was prepared and cross neutralisation tests indicated that the 3 were serologically distinct. However 5 of the 6 remaining agents were related to the prototype strains. The sixth strain produced little infectious virus and was not typed.