Characterization of a new species of adenovirus in falcons.
In 1996, a disease outbreak occurred at a captive breeding facility in Idaho, causing anorexia, dehydration, and diarrhea or sudden death in 72 of 110 Northern aplomado falcons (Falco femoralis septentrionalis) from 9 to 35 days of age and in 6 of 102 peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) from 14 to 25 days of age. Sixty-two Northern aplomado and six peregrine falcons died. Epidemiologic analyses indicated a point source epizootic, horizontal transmission, and increased relative risk associated with cross-species brooding of eggs. Primary lesions in affected birds were inclusion body hepatitis, splenomegaly, and enteritis. The etiology in all mortalities was determined by molecular analyses to be a new species of adenovirus distantly related to the group I avian viruses, serotypes 1 and 4, Aviadenovirus. In situ hybridization and PCR demonstrated that the virus was epitheliotropic and lymphotropic and that infection was systemic in the majority of animals. Adeno-associated virus was also detected by PCR in most affected falcons, but no other infectious agents or predisposing factors were found in any birds. Subsequent to the 1996 epizootic, a similar disease caused by the same adenovirus was found over a 5-year period in orange-breasted falcons (Falco deiroleucus), teita falcons (Falco fasciinucha), a merlin (Falco columbarius), a Vanuatu peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus nesiotes), and gyrfalcon x peregrine falcon hybrids (Falco rusticolus/peregrinus) that died in Wyoming, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and California. These findings indicate that this newly recognized adenovirus is widespread in western and midwestern North America and can be a primary pathogen in different falcon species.
Zoological Society of San Diego, Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species, Department of Pathology, Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, P.O. Box 120-551, San Diego, CA 92112, USA. mschrenzel@sandiegozoo.org
Mark
M
Schrenzel
J Lindsay
JL
Oaks
Dave
D
Rotstein
Gabriel
G
Maalouf
Eric
E
Snook
Cal
C
Sandfort
Bruce
B
Rideout
D000257:Adenoviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000259:Aviadenovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D046093:Falconiformes / Q000821:virology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012703:Serotyping
D004279:DNA, Viral