Avian pox infection in Spanish Imperial eagles (Aquila adalberti)
Avian Pathology: journal of the W.V.P.A publish this investigation article
February 1st, 2001
A cutaneous lesion, previously known as "warts", affecting the featherless parts of face and legs has long been recognized in juvenile Spanish Imperial eagles (Aquila adalberti). This paper describes the presentation, microbiological, histopathological, and electron microscopic findings of lesions and diagnosis of poxvirus infection in nine juveniles. Lesions consisted of single or multiple nodules with a crust and surrounded by skin swelling. Seventy-eight percent of the swabs taken from lesions yielded bacterial growth, with Escherichia coli being the most common bacterium isolated. Histopathology revealed typical pox lesions in all cases. Histopathological changes found consisted of proliferative epithelium, with ballooning degeneration of keratinocytes and lymphocyte infiltrates extending into underlying dermis. Avianpox virus was confirmed by the presence of eosinophilic intracytoplasmatic inclusion bodies in the affected cells on light microscopy, and diagnosis confirmation was performed by electron microscopy of biopsies from all nine eagles.
Hernandez M., Sanchez C., Galka M., Dominguez L., Goyache J., Oria J. and Pizarro M.
 | Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Servicio de Zoonosis Emergentes, de Baja Prevalencia y Agresivos Biológicos (NED). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Laboratorio Forense de Vida Silvestre. | |
| Centro de Visitantes El Acebuche. Parque Nacional de Doñana. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente. | |
| Boscaje, S.L. | |
 | Departamento de Medicina y Cirugia Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad de Córdoba (UCO). |
