Columbid herpesvirus-1 in two Cooper's hawks (Accipiter cooperii) with fatal inclusion body disease.
We report two separate naturally occurring cases of fatal herpesviral disease in Cooper's Hawks (Accipiter cooperii). Gross lesions included splenomegaly and hepatomegaly, with diffuse pale mottling or scattered small white foci. Histologic lesions included splenic and hepatic necrosis associated with eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies characteristic of herpesvirus. In one case, necrosis and inclusions were also noted in bone marrow, thymus, bursa of Fabricius, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, ceca, and the enteric system. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated viral particles typical of herpesvirus within hepatocyte nuclei and budding from the nuclear membrane. Herpesviral DNA was amplified via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of paraffin-embedded liver and spleen, and sequence data were consistent with columbid herpesvirus-1, an alphaherpesvirus of Rock Pigeons (Columba livia). PCR results provide evidence that this disease is transmitted to raptors via Rock Pigeons, most likely through ingestion of Rock Pigeons as prey.
Pinkerton
Marie E
ME
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA. pinkerton@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu
Wellehan
James F X
JF
Johnson
April J
AJ
Childress
April L
AL
Fitzgerald
Scott D
SD
Kinsel
Michael J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000821:virology; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000635:transmission; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D020387:Food Chain; D046428:Hawks / Q000821:virology*; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D007181:Inclusion Bodies, Viral; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary
D004279:DNA, Viral