Molecular Assays for Detection of Falcon Adenovirus

Abstract

Abstract. Falcon adenovirus is a newly recognized member of the family Aviadenoviridae and includes 2 closely related strains that are pathogenic to several species of falcons. Peregrine falcons appear to be one of the primary reservoirs, but recent outbreaks suggest that other carrier species probably exist. To allow screening of captive birds for virus shedding and investigations of disease outbreaks, conventional and realtime, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and an in situ hybridization technique were developed. The diagnostic protocols were used on tissue and fecal samples from 7 species or subspecies of falcons infected with adenovirus as well as adenoviruses from other birds and mammals. The assays were specific for falcon adenovirus and detected both strains of virus in fecal samples from living animals or frozen and formalin-fixed, paraffinized tissues. Together with established serologic tests for falcon adenovirus, these molecular assays are valuable tools for management and conservation of falcons in captivity and the wild.

Retracted:MHC diversity and differential exposure to pathogens in kestrels (Aves:Falconidae)

“…was determined as described in Mekkes & Feberwee (2005) and Turcsányi et al (2005 ). The presence of poxvirus (Tadese & Reed 2003), the paramyxovirus causing the Newcastle disease (Farkas et al 2007), the serotypes H5, H7 and H9 of the avian influenza (Kiss et al 2006;Farkas et al 2007), adenovirus (Schrenzel et al 2007), circovirus (Hsu et al 2006), herpesvirus (Cardoso et al 2005), polyomavirus (Potti et al 2007), reovirus (Zhang et al 2006) Blood parasites (Haematozoa) were checked through traditional microscopic screening of blood smears (Tella et al 1999) and PCR-based methods (Hellgren et al 2004;Stone et al 2005) to increase the accuracy of detection (e.g. Cosgrove et al 2006;Valkiȗ nas et al 2006).…”

Livestock Drugs and Disease: The Fatal Combination behind Breeding Failure in Endangered Bearded Vultures

“…in blood was determined as described previously [29,30]. The presence of poxvirus, the paramyxovirus causing Newcastle disease, the serotypes H5, H7 and H9 of avian influenza, falcon adenovirus, circovirus, herpesvirus, polyomavirus, reovirus and West Nile virus were determined following the PCR-based methods available in the literature [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]. We also searched for helminths and protozoans in the gastrointestinal tract by macroscopic and microscopic observations using standard protocols [40].…”