inclusion body disease of falcons in spain: description … enfermedad por cuerpos de inclusi… ·...
TRANSCRIPT
INCLUSION BODY DISEASE OF INCLUSION BODY DISEASE OF FALCONS IN SPAIN: DESCRIPTION FALCONS IN SPAIN: DESCRIPTION
OF SEVEN CASESOF SEVEN CASESFernando Fariñas, Pablo Rodríguez*, Luis Flores*
Instituto Andaluz de Patología y Microbiología (IAMA)Web: www.iamalab.com Mail: [email protected]/ Domingo Lozano, 60-62, 29010-MALAGA (SPAIN)* Wildvets Veterinarios para la fauna salvajeC/Abades 18 2ºb, 41004, Sevilla (SPAIN) Web: www.wildvets.com
The genomes of pigeon and falcon herpesviruses are similar to each other, while the genome of Pacheco´s disease
virus is different from both pigeon and falcon herpesviruses.
This finding supports the field observations that infection is thought to occur by ingestion of infected prey species, in
particular pigeons. Lierz has shown that 35% of wild injured raptors tested in his survey in Germany were seropositivefor falcon herpesvirus.
Falcon herpes virus is only considered to occur occasionally in Spain with very few reported cases.
INTRODUCTION
Herpesvirus infections were first described in raptors from Austria in the early 1900s and have since been documented
in free-ranging and domestic raptors in the United States, Europe and Asia. Frequently referred to as “inclusion body
hepatitis” of falcons, the herpesvirus that causes this disease has serologic similarities to the herpesvirus that are
found naturally in pigeons and owls.Infected falcons usually die acutely with no premonitory signs, but may exhibit depression, lethargy and anorexia for 24
to 72 hours before death. Mortality rates in affected birds approach 100% with death usually occurring one to two days
after clinical signs develop. Both young and adult falcons have been found to be susceptible to falcon herpesvirus
infections. Gyrfalcons and Prairie Falcon are considered highly susceptible while Peregrine Falcons appear to be
relatively resistant.
EPIDEMIOLOGY
During January and March 2004 we have received in the laboratory
four cases of herpesvirus infections in falcons belonging to distinct free-ranging species (3 Merlin, 2 White Gyrfalcons and 2
Prairie Falcon), all of them from Andalusian Region (Spain).
Clinical history reported by the veterinarian clinician only describe
a picture characterized by depression and lethargy 48 hours before
death of animals.
The reported cases in free-ranging falcons must be a signal for take in care the control of this disease in our raptors populations.
CLINICAL HISTORY HISTOPATHOLOGY
Liver (Figure 1) and spleen (Figure 2) showed
acute multifocal coagulative necrosis (Figures 2
to 4). Small mainly eosinophilic intranuclear
inclusion bodies (Cowdry type B) can usually be observed at the periphery of these necrotic
lesions (Figures 5 to 7).
(Figure 1) (Figure 2) (Figure 3) (Figure 4) (Figure 5) (Figure 6)
(Figure 7)
REFERENCES
CONCLUSION
-Vindevogel, H. and Pastoret, P.P., Herpesvirus infection of pigeons and wild birds. In: McFerran and McNulty (Eds.) Virus infection in birds. Elsevier Science Publishers, 1993 91-106-Gerlach, H. Viral diseases. In: Ritchie, B.W., Harrison, G.J and Harrison, L.R. (eds) Avian medicine: Principles and application. Lake Worth, Florida USA. Wingers publishing Inc. 1994. 862:940-Isolation and identification of a falcon herpesvirus.Vet Rec. 1993 Feb 27;132(9):220-1.