Isolation of a new herpesvirus from a n unusual case of Pacheco's parrot disease in amazones and grey parrots A virus was isolated from diseased and dead amazones and grey parrots in a privat aviary. The virus was identified as a herpesvirus on the basis of its physico-chemical properties and its morphology. Clinical signs and gross pathology of affected birds were different from typical cases of Pacheco's parrot disease. As shown in cross neutralisation tests the described virus does not possess antigenic relationship to the Pacheco's parrot disease herpesvirus and to other avian herpes viruses.

Comparative studies were performed on crane herpesviruses obtained from two different enzootics in Austria and France. The examined viruses appear to be identical in their physico-chemical properties, morphology and biological reactions in ovo. The crane viruses are tentatively classified as beta-herpesviruses. Crane herpesvirus antisera produced in rabbits reacted in cross neutralization tests with each other and with a herpesvirus obtained from a bobwhite quail. No reactivity was observed with other avian herpesviruses and with human herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2.