The influence of the virus on the host organism are comprehensively described. However, the studies conducted on animal models and humas so far include only adult individuals. Due to ethical reasons, no human studies have been carried out on an embryo or fetus. Our data suggest that HADV-D36 effect on embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs) results from completely different mechanism than the one described by
Poterio et al. [
3]. Our measurements of the chicken embryos weight changes agree with the observations made by
Dhurandhar et al., Pasarica et al., and Shirani et al., who also showed a significant increase in the weight of infected animals compared to control animals [
2,
6,
22]. Also, statistical analysis of our results confirms significant difference in the weight between the virus-infected and control embryos. However, our histopathological examinations showed no increase in fat cells growth, no tissue hypertrophy but accelerated cell proliferation in the infected embryos. The amount of fat in their cells and tissues remained at a normal level, but in some cases, steatosis of some organs was also observed. However, due to the absence of any accompanying cytopathic effects on the tissues allowing to determine their individual characteristics, the changes did not result from viral infection. It suggests that the mechanism behind it is significantly different from the known effects of HADv-D36. It seems that the virus finds a susceptible environment in the embryo. Histopathological analyses are consistent with the weight measurements of the embryos. However, the presented data indicate that the increased mass of the examined embryos does not result from an increase in the number of fat cells in the tissues of infected embryos, but from increased cell division in all tissues of the body, which accelerated development and increased organs size. The observed changes might result from an unknown mechanism induced by HAdV-D36 infection. Whether it is due to the high number of differentiating stem cells or what is the mechanism behind it still remains unknown. Perhaps it is related to the expression of developmental genes, whose activation suppresses the genes necessary for adipocyte transformation, or the genes responsible for adipocyte transformation are not yet active.
The real-time PCR results has showed an unusual fluctuation in the CQ level in the livers of chickens’ embryos. The viral load between day 13 and 14 showed a slight increase, but on day 15 it started to decrease for the next two days. On day 18, levels of viral DNA increased again. The decrease in the amount of viral genetic material was most likely related to the enhanced cellular response and increased antibody titer [
24]. The unusual increase in viral genetic material observed on day 18 was probably connected to the decline in antibody titer which could no longer stop the virus’ multiplication. However, this hypothesis requires further research, because the small amount of serum in studied embryos did not allow to measure the level of antibodies. The chicken embryos are characterised by the presence of an immature, but already functioning, immunological system, which comprises antibodies and inflammatory cells [
25,
26]. The observed fluctuation in CQ levels coincided with the histopathological picture showing high number of macrophages and lymphocytes between day 13 and day 20 of the embryos’ development.
The presented data indicate the accelerated tissue proliferation, however do not point out the exact mechanism. Therefore, the observed changes require further research that will allow to unveil more details and explain the phenomenon in question. Heart failure mechanism is associated with changes in fat tissue quantity, inflammatory processes, and altered cardiac physiology that is additionally complicated by co-morbidities [
27]. In these conditions of heart dysfunctions, the impaired glucose metabolism and fatty acid ß-oxidation disrupt mitochondrial functions and promote the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the presented study, we observed significantly increased levels of oxidative stress markers: CAT, GPx, TOS, total SOD, CuZnSOD, and MDA, both in ECEs heart and liver tissue, indicative if increased oxidative stress and ROS levels. Reactive oxygen species negatively affect the function and structure of all cellular macromolecules, including nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. They can alter Ca
2+ regulation, activate pathways linked to electrical remodeling, stimulate cardiomyocytes hypertrophy, induce apoptosis, promote fibrosis, and activate or inhibit the inflammatory response. All of which are understood to be crucial factors in the onset of heart failure [
28,
29] Reactive oxygen species can modify numerous signaling pathways involved in the hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes. For instance, apoptotic signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) in rat’s ventricular cardiomyocytes is activated in a redox-dependent manner by angiotensin II, endothelin-1, and phenylephrine causing their hypertrophy [
30]
Our findings indicate that CAT, SOD, GST and, to some extent, GR activity in the ECEs heart tissue is influenced by HAdV-D36 infection which lead to changes in the oxidative processes and hypertrophy of the heart tissue. In the liver, ROS overwhelm the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, causing oxidative stress, hepatocellular dysfunction, and eventually hepatic fibrosis. Viral infections also increase levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic oxidative stress markers in the liver [
31,
32]. According to Duygu et al., individuals with chronic HBV infections present higher levels of oxidative stress markers, such as hydroxyl, hydrogen peroxide, singlet oxygen, lipid hydroperoxide, and superoxide, and lower levels of antioxidant markers, such as total sulfhydryl, vitamin C, uric acid, vitamin E, and bilirubin in their blood [
33] Increased glutathione reductase activity prevents the excessive quenching of intracellular ROS essential for insulin signalling [
34]. Camini et al analyzed the impact of Caraparu virus (CARV) on the hepatic pathogenesis in the 6-week-old BALB/c mice and the role of oxidative stress and antioxidant defences in this pathology. CARV infection caused no change in the oxidative stress markers but caused an increase in glutathione content and altered SOD expression and activity [
35]. Da Silva et al. studied impact of Oropouche virus (OROV) on the hepatic stress in male and female wild-type BALB/c mice. They reported that SOD and CAT activity in the liver and spleen decreased after OROV infection, indicating the antioxidant response as ineffective in stopping the oxidative damage [
36]. In our study, we observed increased GR and total SOD activities and decreased MnSOD, CuZnSOD, GPx, and GST activities. Moreover, HAdV-D36 infection significantly increased MDA concentration and TOS leves. The presented data show that oxidative stress generated by HADV-D36 results from imbalance in redox homeostasis started by exccesive ROS production that negatively affects biomolecules or incapacitates the antioxidant system.