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1 July 2008 COLUMBID HERPESVIRUS-1 IN TWO COOPER'S HAWKS (ACCIPITER COOPERII) WITH FATAL INCLUSION BODY DISEASE
Marie E. Pinkerton, James F. X. Wellehan, April J. Johnson, April J. Childress, Scott D. Fitzgerald, Michael J. Kinsel
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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.

Pinkerton, Wellehan, Johnson, Childress, Fitzgerald, and Kinsel: COLUMBID HERPESVIRUS-1 IN TWO COOPER'S HAWKS (ACCIPITER COOPERII) WITH FATAL INCLUSION BODY DISEASE
Marie E. Pinkerton, James F. X. Wellehan, April J. Johnson, April J. Childress, Scott D. Fitzgerald, and Michael J. Kinsel "COLUMBID HERPESVIRUS-1 IN TWO COOPER'S HAWKS (ACCIPITER COOPERII) WITH FATAL INCLUSION BODY DISEASE," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 44(3), 622-628, (1 July 2008). https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-44.3.622
Received: 5 June 2007; Published: 1 July 2008
KEYWORDS
Accipiter cooperii
columbid herpesvirus
Cooper's Hawk
falcon herpesvirus
inclusion body disease
polymerase chain reaction
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