Avian pox in seabirds on Marion Island, southern Indian Ocean

Abstract

Albatrosses are among the most threatened groups of seabirds with the main land-based threats being alien invasive species, human disturbance and habitat degradation. Disease outbreaks in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic seabird populations are uncommon, but in the past few decades there has been an increase in reported cases. The sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands (46°S, 37°E) in the south-western Indian Ocean provide breeding grounds for many seabird species, including 44% of all wandering albatrosses (Diomedea exulans L.). In 2015, five wandering albatrosses and two penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome Forster and Aptenodytes patagonicus Miller) with pox-like lesions were observed on Marion Island, the larger of the two Prince Edward Islands. Despite intensive study of the wandering albatross population since the 1980s, the only previous records of such lesions are one case in 2006 and another in 2009 in white-chinned petrels (Procellaria aequinoctialis L.). Molecular and phylogenetic analysis of tissue samples from two albatross chicks confirmed the presence of avian pox virus (Avipoxvirus). This highlights the need for research into the diseases present on sub-Antarctic islands, for strict controls to limit the risk of accidental introduction of diseases through human activities and the need for effective conservation measures in the event of an outbreak.

Food supplementation protects Magnificent frigatebird chicks against a fatal viral disease

“…Also, limited information is available for specific taxa, such as seabirds. Seabirds aggregate at high densities during the breeding season, thus are strongly susceptible to changes in food availability (Velando, Ortega-Ruano, & Freire, 1999) and disease outbreaks (Schoombie et al, 2017;Weimerskirch, 2004). Seabirds are also currently facing a strong decline in food resources due to climate change (Cahill et al, 2013) and overfishing (Wagner & Boersma, 2011), and are among the most threatened avian groups (Croxall et al, 2012).…”

"Psittacinepox Virus in Psephotus Haematonotus (Red-Rumped Parrot) in Chile"

“…subjected to multiple comparisons together with international sequences available in GenBank that included representatives from different avian species, countries, and clades and subclades reported for Avipoxvirus, namely, fowlpox clade (A), canarypox clade (B), and psittacinepox clade (C). In total, 10 sequences of APV described from psittacine birds (Gyuranecz,et al [9,(14)(15)(16)(17)) were included and analyzed together with the two sequences of the present study (Table 1). For this purpose, a multiple sequence alignment tool of Clustal Omega was used (Larkin,).…”

Molecular characterization and lesions associated with Diomedenema diomedeae (Aproctoidea: Desmidocercidae) from grey-headed albatrosses (Thalassarche chrysostoma) on Subantarctic Marion Island

“…In April–May 2016, chicks of grey-headed albatrosses were found dead at colonies on Marion Island, the larger of the two Prince Edward Islands. Due to the history of avian cholera outbreaks ( Cooper et al, 2009 ) and the recent occurrence of mouse scalping ( Dilley et al, 2016 ) and avian pox in seabirds at Marion Island ( Schoombie et al, 2018 ), this mortality led to concern and prompted a parasitological and pathological investigation.…”