An African pygmy hedgehog adenovirus 1 (AhAdV-1) outbreak in an African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) colony in Japan

H Ochiai; K Tamukai; Y Akabane; M Oba; T Omatsu; A Okumura; T Mizutani; H Madarame

doi:10.1016/j.vas.2019.100083

An African pygmy hedgehog adenovirus 1 (AhAdV-1) outbreak in an African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) colony in Japan

Vet Anim Sci. 2019 Nov 11:9:100083. doi: 10.1016/j.vas.2019.100083. eCollection 2020 Jun.

Authors

H Ochiai¹, K Tamukai², Y Akabane³, M Oba⁴, T Omatsu³, A Okumura⁴, T Mizutani³, H Madarame⁵

Affiliations

¹ Research Institute of Biosciences, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5201 Japan.
² Den-en-chofu Animal Hospital, Denenchofu, Ota-ku, Tokyo 145-0071, Japan.
³ Research and Education Center for Prevention of Global Infectious Diseases of Animals, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8538, Japan.
⁴ Centre for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States.
⁵ Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan.

Abstract

An African pygmy hedgehog adenovirus 1 (AhAdV-1) outbreak in a colony of 24 African pygmy hedgehogs (APHs) with a case of fatal pneumonia occurred in Japan. Thirteen out of a colony of 15 APHs with respiratory symptoms were diagnosed with AhAdV-1 infection based on the detection of AhAdV-1 genome in throat/nasal swabs and further one APH was diagnosed on isolation of the virus. Five infected APHs died during the outbreak and AhAdV-1 caused severe pneumonia and death in one case. After the outbreak, persistent AhAdV-1 infection was suggested in one surviving APH. AhAdV-1 is a novel adenovirus and is suspected to be an emerging pathogen.

Keywords: African pygmy hedgehog (APH); African pygmy hedgehog adenovirus 1 (AhAdV-1); Emerging pathogen; Outbreak; Respiratory disease.