Non-West Nile virus-associated mortality in a population of American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos): a gross and histopathologic study.
The American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is a common urban and rural inhabitant of the Northeast and Midwest United States that is commonly infected with West Nile virus (WNV). The current study was initiated to determine non-WNV-associated causes of mortality in the American crow. All animals (40/40) tested negative for WNV infection via polymerase chain reaction and had no evidence of infection based on immunohistochemistry. Common gross necropsy findings included external trauma (6/40), hepatosplenomegaly (6/40), poxviral dermatitis (5/40), and pneumonia (3/40). Common histologic findings included endoparasitism (32/40), multifocal hepatic and splenic necrosis (7/40), pigment accumulation in the spleen (5/40), and disseminated bacterial infection (3/40). The most significant and debilitating diseases included fungal pneumonia and poxvirus-associated lesions. The present report increases the knowledge of diseases present in the American crow population.
Harvard Medical School, Division of Comparative Pathology, New England Primate Research Center, One Pine Hill Drive, Southborough, MA 01772, USA. Andrew_Miller@hms.harvard.edu
Andrew D
AD
Miller
Andrea K
AK
Townsend
Kevin J
KJ
McGowan
Anne B
AB
Clark
Amy L
AL
Glaser
Lisa A
LA
Patrican
Elizabeth
E
Dobson
Elizabeth L
EL
Buckles
D000038:Abscess / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D046368:Crows; D005368:Filariasis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D011213:Poxviridae Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D014456:Ulcer / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D014902:West Nile virus; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary