Pacheco's Disease in Psittacine Birds

Abstract

Pacheco's disease, caused by a herpesvirus, was diagnosed in 20 groups of 47 psittacine birds received for necropsy. A tentative diagnosis, based on history and gross lesions, was confirmed by one or more of the following observations: Cowdry type A inclusions in the hepatocytes and cells of other affected tissues, pathogenicity of tissue suspensions for chicken embryos, cytopathic effects of herpesvirus in monolayers of chicken embryo fibroblasts, and demonstration of herpesvirus in cell-culture fluid by electron microscopy.

Pacheco’s disease in a Hungarian zoo bird population: A case report

“…Our findings are concordant with data of the literature (Pacheco and Bier, 1930;Rivers and Schwentker, 1932;Panigrahy and Grumbles, 1984), and other conditions leading to severe liver damage were excluded.…”

“…The disease is a rapidly spreading epizootic with a mortality rate close to 100%. The mostly nonspecific symptoms commonly include inflammation of the respiratory organs, diarrhoea and neurologi-Acta Veterinaria Hungarica 55, 2007 cal signs (Panigrahy and Grumbles, 1984). Death ensues rapidly, usually within 24-48 hours after the first symptoms or even without previous clinical signs, and is due to the collapse of circulation.…”

“…Death ensues rapidly, usually within 24-48 hours after the first symptoms or even without previous clinical signs, and is due to the collapse of circulation. Autopsy findings can also be variable; histopathology reveals hepatic necrosis with numerous intranuclear inclusion bodies (Panigrahy and Grumbles, 1984).…”

Mortality in psittacine birds resembling Pacheco's disease in Spain

“…The typical clinical signs include gastrointestinal and/or respiratory or nervous symptomatology, depending on which system is affected to the greater extent (Simpson & Hanley, 1976;Panigraphy & Grumbles, 1983;Cartwright et al, 1985;Westerhof et al, 1988).…”

“…Histopathologically, the disease is characterised by multifocal hepatocyte necrosis and by the presence of acidophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies in the hepatocytes (IIBs) (Simpson et al, 1975;Kaliner, 1975;Miller et al, 1979;Panigraphy & Grumbles, 1983;Cartwright et al, 1985;Persin & Bratrosvsky, 1986). IIBs are also found occasionally in mononuclear splenic cells, epithelial cells in air sacs and enterocytes (Panigraphy & Grumbles, 1983;Cartwright et al, 1985).…”