Wendy,
We really don’t have any answers. I think its good you brought your experience with adenovirus out into the open and you have our sympathy for all you have experienced.
I do feel that things are usually not that cut and dry.
In Bruce’s experience, from what we have read, it seems to have not been that cut and dry. It seems he is asking many questions just like we have been and getting the “I just don’t know” for an answer.
Anyone’s stock and facility may be considered contaminated due to positive results and the fact that we know so very little about this virus. Human Adenoviruses are classified at Biosafety Level 2 according to MSDS in Canada.
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/msds-ftss/index.html - Public Health Agency of Canada
http://www.cdc.gov/OD/OHS/symp5/jyrtext.htm - CDC
We are not questioning the accuracy of the test Dan recommends.
One question we have is based on the discrepancy we see in the varying degree of mortality seen in dragons - You experience was a 50% mortality rate in clutch #3 and cross-contamination. Suzanne (other breeder) experiencing a 15% mortality rate in 200 animals. It is possible that this could be a different Adenovirus strain?
The major concern we have is : What is the consistency which shedding of the virus is seen? An accurate testing method is inconclusive if the agent you are testing for is inconsistent.
Which brings us back, full circle, to our question posted above.
Rob & Vickie