Two epornitics of avian pox occurred in psittacine birds, seriously affecting redrumped parrots (Psephotus haematonotus). Avipoxvirus (APV) infection could be characterized in the Psephotus necropsied by diphtheric, cutaneous and systemic forms. P. haematonotus were affected by splenitis and focal necrotic hepatitis attributed to Avipoxvirus. The DNA sequences of the Pb4 gene were determined for 4 Avipoxvirus positive birds. We present a phylogeny of all available partial sequences of psittacine birds including two novel Avipoxvirus of this study (GeneBank KY748237 and KY748236). The nucleotide sequences clearly grouped within the clade C of the Psittacinepox virus (PSPV). We conclude that these infections in Psephotus were caused by an avian poxvirus previously unrecognized in Chile. Further characterization of PSPV and the development of an urgent generation of effective and safe vaccines are needed in psittacine birds.
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