Avipoxvirus

Avipoxvirus is a member of the Poxviridae family. The Poxviridae family is the family of viruses which cause the victim organism to have poxes as a symptom. Poxviruses have generally large genomes, and other such examples include smallpox and monkeypox. Members of the avipoxvirus genus infect specifically birds. Avipoxviruses are unable to complete their replication cycle in non avian species.^[1] Although it is comparably slow-spreading, Avipoxvirus is known to cause symptoms like pustules full of pus lining the skin and diphtheria-like symptoms. These diphtheria-like symptoms might include dipitheric necrotic membranes lining the mouth and the upper respiratory tract. This disease can be transmitted to humans by unusually close contact with birds that are infected or the consuming of liquids or solids that have been in extremely close contact with an infected bird. Like other avian viruses, it can be transmitted through vectors mechanically such as through mosquitoes.^[2]

Avipoxvirus is a virus that is brick shaped and is usually 200 nanometers in diameter. This is much larger than normal viruses which are around 60 nanometers in diameter. This virus can only be contracted through vectors and consumption of infected items, but they can be filtered by a special water filter. This filter is called a Large Volume Water Sampler (LVWS).

Unlike other viruses, avipoxvirus can withstand extreme dryness. With this advantage, it can spread on dust particles. This is because it has adapted to living in the dry mucous membranes of an infected host's upper respiratory tract.

As this virus is a poxvirus, it has a high mortality rate in birds, as other poxviruses have in humans. The effects of this virus might increase the difficulty of breathing, eating, and drinking significantly. Exterior lesions are restricted to the non-feathered parts of the body, usually the face and legs and are characterized by proliferative and necrotizing dermatitis.^[3] Another feature of this bird pox that has been observed is the presence of blood sacs or blisters filled with bloody fluid that will collapse when pierced with a needled and allowed to drain.^[4] This virus has the highest mortality rate in upland gamebirds such as pheasant, quail, and chukar, as well as in songbirds, marine birds such as seagulls, parrots, and some raptors such as the peregrine falcon.

Other names for this peculiar virus might include avian pox, fowlpox, canarypox, juncopox, mynahpox.

History and Prevalence

Avipoxvirus affects more than 230 species of wild and domestic birds worldwide.^[5] It affects a variety of birds including chickens, turkeys, songbirds, upland game birds, marine birds, pets, and occasionally raptors, but is rarely found in waterfowl and shore birds. Its prevalence among wild populations is unknown due to lack of studies It is most common in temperate (warm and humid) climates. All cases in North America have relatively recent. The USGS has reported an increased number of cases in multiple countries with new affected bird species added in recent years. This suggests avian pox is an emerging viral disease.^[6]

Mosquitoes that feed on birds are the most consistent and efficient transmitters of the virus. There appears to be a relationship between this virus and seasonal mosquito cycles. For example, in California and Oregon, prevalence is lowest in the dry summer months than the wetter seasons of fall and winter. However, more research is required to test this theory.^[6]

Transmission

Mosquitoes are the most common vectors for transmission of the avipoxvirus. Transmission occurs when a mosquito feeds on a bird in which the virus is circulating in the bloodstream or feeds near secretions from lesions. When the mosquito moves to a susceptible host and feeds, the new host is infected with the virus. The virus can also be transmitted indirectly by contaminated surfaces or airborne particles. Infections occur when the contaminated particles come in contact with mucous membranes or skin abrasions.^[6] While transmission by mosquitoes has been effective at spreading the virus in a localized setting, the transmission between infected individuals has allowed the virus to spread across long distances.

Avian pox viruses appear to be family or order specific, that is, a pox virus infecting gamebirds is not likely to infect songbirds and vice versa.^[5] There is no known evidence of any avian pox virus strain transmissible to humans.^[7]

Avipoxvirus infection in a Laysan Albatross chick

Clinical Signs

Lesions of the skin and diphtheritic membrane of the respiratory tract are common when domesticated and wild birds are infected with the avipoxvirus.^[8] There are two common forms of clinical signs. Cutaneous pox are most common. They appear as wart-like growths around the eyes and other apterylae (feather-free) areas, sometimes in large clusters. Pock lesions can be concentrated or spread out.^[8] The size and number of growths depend on the severity of the infection.^[9] Diphtheritic, or wet, pox are characterized as raised yellow blemishes on mucus membranes of the mouth, esophagus, trachea, and lungs. These can lead to difficulty breathing or swallowing. In both cases, birds may appear weak and emaciated.^[9]

The infection of avipoxvirus can lead to decreased egg production, reduced growth, blindness, and increased mortality in domestic poultry. In wild bird species, elevated predation secondary infections, trauma, reduced male mating success, and death are common results.^[8]

Prevention and Control

Avian pox viruses are contagious pathogens, and once introduced into a captive community, can spread very quickly.^[6] The recommended method of preventing transmission is to prevent standing water in the environment (i.e., to avoid mosqitoes), decontaminate feeders, perches, cages etc., and avoid close confined contact of individual birds.^[7]

Vaccines have been developed from strains of the virus for fowlpox, canarypox, pigeonpox, and quailpox to help prevent infection in captive and domestic bird populations.^[5] There is no one specific treatment used for birds who have contracted the avipoxvirus.^[8] Often the avipoxvirus acts as an immune suppressant, leading to secondary bacterial infections, which are recommended for treatment.^[5] Common methods include use of iodine-glycerin applications to assist in healing lesions, use of antibiotics to attempt to control secondary infections, and use of vitamin A to supplement healing of lesions.^[8]

There is a demand for new vaccines, especially for endangered species.^[5] The development of a single vaccine that can treat all species has been difficult to develop, since the avipoxvirus is taxon specific.^[8] Currently, vaccination is not a plausible method of control for wild bird populations, where avipoxvirus is most prevalent.^[5] To improve this, there are current efforts in using the avipoxviruses as vectors for recombinant vaccines in order eventually evolve them into multiple species targeted vaccines.^[8]

References

External links

• Viralzone: Avipoxvirus
• Virus Pathogen Database and Analysis Resource (ViPR): Poxviridae
• Species Profile- Fowlpox (Avipoxvirus), National Invasive Species Information Center, United States National Agricultural Library. Lists general information and resources for Fowlpox.