A new goat adenovirus isolate proposed as the prototype strain for goat adenovirus serotype 1.

A virus isolated from the brain of a 3-year-old goat with encephalitis was identified as an adenovirus based on morphological and physicochemical characteristics. Neutralization tests and restriction endonuclease analysis comparing the caprine adenovirus with the prototype ovine and bovine adenovirus serotypes indicated that the caprine isolate was antigenically different and produced a unique restriction pattern and may represent a new adenovirus species. A limited seroepidemiologic study using adult goat and sheep sera collected from around the Unites States indicated that approximately 60 and 80 percent, respectively, had specific antibody for this isolate.