In utero adenoviral infection of sheep.

The occurrence of natural in utero adenovirus infection in sheep was examined. Isolation of three adenovirus strains from the kidneys of 174 sheep foetuses is reported; all three isolates belonged to Type 2 bovine adenovirus (BAV 2) Subtype B. Five of 25 blood samples from sheep foetuses contained virus-neutralizing antibodies (1:4-1:24) against BAV 2. These data prove that transplacental transfer of adenovirus infection can occur naturally in sheep.