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Transmissibility of adenovirus-induced adiposity in a chicken model

International Journal of Obesity volume 25, pages 990–996 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We previously reported that human adenovirus Ad-36 induces adiposity and paradoxically lower levels of serum cholesterol (CHOL) and triglycerides (TG) in animals.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the transmissibility of Ad-36 and Ad-36 induced adiposity using a chicken model.

DESIGN: Experiment 1—four chickens were housed (two per cage) and one from each cage was inoculated with Ad-36. Duration of presence of Ad-36 DNA in the blood of all chickens was monitored. Experiment 2—two groups of chickens were intranasally inoculated with Ad-36 (infected donors, I-D) or media (control donors, C-D). Blood drawn 36 h later from I-D and C-D groups was inoculated into wing veins of recipient chickens (infected receivers, I-R, and control receivers, C-R, respectively). On sacrifice, 5 weeks post-inoculation, blood was drawn, body weight noted and visceral fat was separated and weighed.

RESULTS: Experiment 1—Ad-36 DNA appeared in the blood of the inoculated chickens and that of uninoculated chickens (cage mates) within 12 h of inoculation and the viral DNA persisted up to 25 days in the blood. Experiment 2—compared with C-D, visceral and total body fat were significantly greater and CHOL significantly lower for the I-D and I-R. TG were significantly lower for the I-D. Ad-36 was isolated from 12 out of 16 blood samples of the I-D that were used for inoculating I-R chickens. Ad-36 DNA was present in the blood and the adipose tissue of the I-D and I-R but not in the skeletal muscles of animals selected randomly for testing.

CONCLUSION: As seen in experiment 1, Ad-36 infection can be transmitted horizontally from an infected chicken to another chicken sharing the cage. Additionally, experiment 2 demonstrated blood-borne transmission of Ad-36-induced adiposity in chickens. Transmissibility of Ad-36-induced adiposity in chicken model raises serious concerns about such a possibility in humans that needs further investigation.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge Drs Geoffrey Letchworth and Lisa Krugner-Higby for advice on virological aspects and Sharon Gathright and Kathleen Taylor for laboratory assistance. This work was supported by funds from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation's Beers-Murphy Clinical Nutrition Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    NV Dhurandhar

  2. Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    BA Israel

  3. School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    JM Kolesar

  4. Department of Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    G Mayhew

  5. Department of Poultry Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    ME Cook

  6. Department of Medicine and Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    RL Atkinson

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  1. NV Dhurandhar
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  4. G Mayhew
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  5. ME Cook
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  6. RL Atkinson
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Correspondence to NV Dhurandhar.

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Dhurandhar, N., Israel, B., Kolesar, J. et al. Transmissibility of adenovirus-induced adiposity in a chicken model. Int J Obes 25, 990–996 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801668

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