title: Genetic characterization of a herpesvirus isolate from a superb starling (Lamprotornis superbus) as a psittacid herpesvirus genotype 1.
abstract: Four genotypes of the psittacid herpesvirus (PsHV) cause Pacheco disease in parrots. Viruses that are serologically cross-reactive to the PsHVs have also been isolated from passerine species. DNA was amplified from a herpesvirus isolated from a superb starling (Lamprotornis superbus) with PsHV-specific primers and polymerase chain reaction. A comparison of the partial sequence of the UL 16 gene from this herpesvirus with sequences from viruses of known PsHV genotypes showed that the herpesvirus from the superb starling was a PsHV genotype 1 virus. This finding expands the range of birds that are known to be susceptible to PsHV genotype 1 infections and suggests that PsHVs should be considered as a differential in passerines with herpesvirus infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4475, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Tomaszewski
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gravendyck
authors.forename: Erhard F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Kaleta
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Phalen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D020308:Songbirds / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral