Columbid herpesvirus-1 in two Cooper's hawks (Accipiter cooperii) with fatal inclusion body disease

J Wildl Dis. 2008 Jul;44(3):622-8. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-44.3.622.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild / virology
  • Bird Diseases / epidemiology
  • Bird Diseases / pathology*
  • Bird Diseases / transmission
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Food Chain*
  • Hawks / virology*
  • Herpesviridae / isolation & purification*
  • Herpesviridae / pathogenicity
  • Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / pathology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / transmission
  • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary*
  • Inclusion Bodies, Viral
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Kidney / ultrastructure
  • Kidney / virology
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver / ultrastructure
  • Liver / virology
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / veterinary
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary

Substances

  • DNA, Viral