New Species of Adenovirus Identified in Falcons

Main Category: Veterinary
Article Date: 19 Jul 2005 - 4:00 PDT

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Midwest and west coast researchers have identified a new species of adenovirus in falcons. Their findings appear in the July 2005 issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

Falcons, birds of prey, are scarcely found today largely due to destruction of their natural habitat in the early 20th century as well as pesticide exposure, poachers and illness. As a result of their dwindling population researchers have minimal knowledge of diseases that naturally occur among these birds. In 1996 an outbreak of disease at a captive breeding facility in Idaho exhibiting anorexia, dehydration, diarrhea and sudden death claimed the lives of 68 falcons between two different species. Extensive testing on all the birds that died resulted in the identification of a new adenovirus species, distantly related to a group of avian viruses known as Aviadenovirus.

Adenoviruses usually exhibit low levels of virulence and have been recognized in at least forty vertebrate species. Infection generally manifests intestinal or respiratory symptoms, with serious illness only developing in conjunction with exposure to other viral or bacterial pathogens. However, emergence of a new viral strain or cross-species transmission can result in higher fatality rates ranging from seventy to ninety percent.

Following the 1996 outbreak, researchers monitored a variety of falcon species co-housed together over a five-year period. The same virus was found in five different species indicating widespread infection among falcons located in western and midwestern North America.

"These findings indicate that this newly recognized adenovirus is widespread in western and midwestern North America and can be a primary pathogen in different falcon species," say the researchers.

(M. Schrenzel, J.L. Oaks, D. Rotstein, G. Maalouf, E. Snook, C. Sandfort, B. Rideout. 2005. Characterization of a new species of adenovirus in falcons. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 43. 7: 3402-3413.)

Tips from the journals of the American Society for Microbiology
Carrie Patterson
cpatterson@asmusa.org
202-942-9389
American Society for Microbiology
http://www.asm.org

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