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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, July 2005, p. 3402-3413, Vol. 43, No. 7
0095-1137/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.43.7.3402-3413.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Characterization of a New Species of Adenovirus in Falcons

Zoological Society of San Diego, Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species, Department of Pathology, Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, P.O. Box 120-551, San Diego, California 92112,¹ Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-7040,² College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, 2407 River Drive, Room A201, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-4542,³ Peregrine Fund, 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, Idaho 83709⁴

Received 9 August 2004/ Returned for modification 19 October 2004/ Accepted 7 November 2004

In 1996, a disease outbreak occurred at a captive breeding facility in Idaho, causing anorexia, dehydration, and diarrhea or sudden death in 72 of 110 Northern aplomado falcons (Falco femoralis septentrionalis) from 9 to 35 days of age and in 6 of 102 peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) from 14 to 25 days of age. Sixty-two Northern aplomado and six peregrine falcons died. Epidemiologic analyses indicated a point source epizootic, horizontal transmission, and increased relative risk associated with cross-species brooding of eggs. Primary lesions in affected birds were inclusion body hepatitis, splenomegaly, and enteritis. The etiology in all mortalities was determined by molecular analyses to be a new species of adenovirus distantly related to the group I avian viruses, serotypes 1 and 4, Aviadenovirus. In situ hybridization and PCR demonstrated that the virus was epitheliotropic and lymphotropic and that infection was systemic in the majority of animals. Adeno-associated virus was also detected by PCR in most affected falcons, but no other infectious agents or predisposing factors were found in any birds. Subsequent to the 1996 epizootic, a similar disease caused by the same adenovirus was found over a 5-year period in orange-breasted falcons (Falco deiroleucus), teita falcons (Falco fasciinucha), a merlin (Falco columbarius), a Vanuatu peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus nesiotes), and gyrfalcon x peregrine falcon hybrids (Falco rusticolus/peregrinus) that died in Wyoming, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and California. These findings indicate that this newly recognized adenovirus is widespread in western and midwestern North America and can be a primary pathogen in different falcon species.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Schrenzel, M., Snook, E., Gagneux, P. (2007). Molecular assays for detection of falcon adenovirus. jvdi 19: 479-485 [Abstract] [Full Text]