title: Diagnosis of polyomavirus infection in seedcrackers (Pyrenestes sp.) and blue bills (Spermophaga haematina) using DNA in situ hybridization.
abstract: Avian polyomavirus (APV) infection was diagnosed in a closed research colony of seedcrackers (Pyrenestes sp.) and blue-bills (Spermophaga haematina) using DNA in situ hybridization. The DNA probe was a 1-kbp double-stranded PCR-generated probe that recognized a conserved nucleotide sequence within the VP-1 gene. Using this technique, APV infection was diagnosed, in 25 of 45 birds based upon examination of formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissues. Birds infected with APV apparently had a higher incidence of hepatic necrosis, hepatitis, bacterial infections and parasitism than did birds without APV.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Latimer
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Niagro
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Campagnoli
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Harmon
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Howerth
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Ritchie