Characterization of a human adenovirus 5: rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine reisolated from orally vaccinated skunks.

An infectious recombinant human adenovirus which carries the rabies glycoprotein gene and accompanying SV40 control elements can be given orally to skunks to immunize them against rabies. We have looked for adenovirus in the feces and oral fluids of animals that have been given this recombinant and have obtained 111 virus positive samples from 16 test animals. DNA from these virus isolates was examined for possible mutations. One possible insertion mutation was detected by SmaI restriction endonuclease analysis of genomic DNA. Further analysis by HaeIII restriction and nucleotide sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products encompassing the whole SV40-rabies insert revealed that this isolate contained an insert of the 72 base pair sequence found in the SV40 promoter region. A second mutation, in which 54 base pairs were deleted from within the rabies glycoprotein gene, was also detected in two independent isolates from one skunk.