An Epornitic of Avian Pox in Houbara Bustards: (Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii)

Abstract

Summary An epornitic of avian pox occurred in a flock of 123 houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii) received at the Sulman Falcon Hospital in the State of Bahrain in February 1993. Birds displayed conjunctivitis, excessive lacrimation and papilloma‐like growths forming amorphous clusters on the third eyelid and on the conjunctiva. Examination of eyelid samples under transmission electron microscopy revealed pox virus particles displaying the classical morphology of vaccinia‐avipox virions. Typical pox lesions were also detected 5 days post infection (p.i.) on chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). The virus titre on CAM was 107 focus‐forming units (FFU) /ml. In tissue culture, only a slight cytopathogenic effect (CPE) was detected 5 days p.i. The virus titre on cell cultures was 104.5 FFU/ml. The virus infection in cell culture appeared to be abortive and no CPE was seen after three passages in secondary chicken embryo fibroblasts. No neutralization of the cell‐grown virus was detected on serological studies using antisera directed against fowl, pigeon, canary and sparrowpox viruses. The discussion is framed around the different cultural properties of the houbara bustard pox virus isolate and its relationship to other known viral strains.

Outbreaks of Pox Disease Due to Canarypox-Like and Fowlpox-Like Viruses in Large-Scale Houbara Bustard Captive-Breeding Programmes, in Morocco and the United Arab Emirates

“…APV can have dramatic impact on endangered species, especially when APV are introduced in naïve populations as described in Hawaii (Van Riper et al., ) or Galapagos Islands (Thiel et al., ). The disease has also been reported in captive flocks of wild species, such as peregrine falcons in Germany (Krone et al., ) or Houbara Bustard species (hereafter ‘Houbara’) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Morocco (Samour et al., ; Bailey et al., ; Le Loc'h et al., ). In this species, only sporadic cases have so far been recorded in captive‐breeding projects (Ostrowski et al., ,b, ) and mortality has been reported only in illegally trapped birds (Samour et al., ; Bailey et al., , ).…”

Diversity of avipoxviruses in captive-bred Houbara bustard

“…The impact of the disease can be dramatic for endangered species, especially for island species when APV are introduced in naïve populations as described in Hawaii [15], the Galapagos Islands [16] or Canary islands [17]. The disease is also a concern for the success of conservation programs of endangered species, such as peregrine falcons in Germany [18] or Houbara bustard species (hereafter "Houbara") in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Morocco [19,20].…”

Medical Rehabilitation and Quarantine of Illegally Traded Macqueen's Bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii) in the United Arab Emirates

“…These lesions then progress to the secondary stage, becoming scabs. 31 A recent survey of live and dead smuggled birds from 1992-99 revealed that 23.7% of the birds had pox lesions. 10 The cutaneous form causes mild to moderate signs, 10,32 whereas the less commonly seen diphtheritic form causes signs and lesions that are more severe.…”

“…10 The cutaneous form causes mild to moderate signs, 10,32 whereas the less commonly seen diphtheritic form causes signs and lesions that are more severe. 31 This latter form of the disease is characterized by the presence of diphtheritic lesions of the upper-digestive and respiratory tracts. Most birds die within a few days of the onset of disease.…”