Isolation of adenoviruses from baboons (Papio sp.) with respiratory and enteric infections

Summary Simian adenoviruses were isolated from swabs and tissues of 6 newborn baboons which showed symptoms of pneumo-enteritis. Sixty isolates were found to be the same simian adenovirus (V340) as described previously. Three isolates were identified as SA7 virus. V340 virus was isolated consistently from oral and rectal swabs during the course of the disease and from various tissues from 3 animals which succumbed. The three SA7 viruses were isolated from rectal swabs of two animals during their convalescence. The consistent isolation of V 340 virus and the specific immune response to V 340 virus in the convalescent sera of the 3 surviving animals are indicative of a causative role of this virus in the pathogenesis of this disease. The frequent isolation of species of theKlebsiella-Aerobacter group, among others, indicates bacterial involvement in the disease process. Their exact role in the pathogenesis remains to be ascertained.This work was supported in part by U.S.P.H.S. grant GM-FR-13252-03 and W.H.O. grant 22/181/27.