Identification of Adenovirus- and Dependovirus-like Agents in an Outbreak of Fatal Gastroenteritis in Captive Born California Mountain Kingsnakes, Lampropeltis zonata multicincta

ABSTRACT A group of seven juvenile California mountain kingsnakes, Lampropeltis zonata multicincta, developed severe acute gastroenteritis characterized by emesis, dehydration and sudden death. Histopathology demonstrated segmental mucosal necrosis and hyperplasia, villus blunting and fusion. Abundant basophilic Cowdry type-A intranuclear inclusions were demonstrated in enterocytes peripheral to the zone of acute necrosis throughout the small intestine. Electron microscopy demonstrated intranuclear crystalline arrays of non-enveloped virus-like particles that measured 65 to 70 nm in diameter. Clusters of smaller non-enveloped virus-like particles that measured 15 to 18 nm in diameter were found in association with the larger particles. The size, morphology and location of the two virus-like particles were consistent with an adenovirus and a parvovirus. The presence of the parvovirus-like particles in the same nuclei and in association with adenovirus-like particles suggested the parvovirus-like agent to b...