Characterization of a New Species of Adenovirus in Falcons

Abstract

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. Adenoassociated 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 ؋ 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.

Detection and partial genetic characterisation of novel avi- and siadenoviruses in racing and fancy pigeons (Columba livia domestica)

“…Additional aviadenovirus serotypes have been described from goose, duck and turkey (Kaján et al, 2012;Marek et al, 2014a and b). As to wild birds, aviadenoviruses have been found in representatives of the orders Falconiformes (Schrenzel et al, 2005), Psittaciformes (Raue et al, 2005a;Wellehan et al, 2005) and Charadriiformes (Bodewes et al, 2013). From Columbiformes, a single AdV named pigeon adenovirus 1 (PiAdV-1), has been characterised by DNA sequence (Hess et al, 1998;Marek et al, 2014b).…”

Falcon Adenovirus Infection in Breeding Taita Falcons (Falco Fasciinucha)

“…The DNA sequence of the hexon region was 100% identical to previously published taita falcon adenovirus (GenBank AY683554). 11 The liver samples were negative for herpesvirus, dependovirus (parvovirus), polyomavirus, and chlamydia by PCR.…”

“…Hepatic and intestinal samples of 3 female and 2 male Taita falcons (bird numbers 1 to 5) were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay specific for adenovirus, and the amplicons were cloned and sequenced following a previously published protocol. 11 Briefly, DNA was extracted from frozen tissues using the Qiagen Tissue Kit.…”

Effect of Fowl Adenovirus (FAdV-7) Infection on the Replication of Turkey Herpesvirus FC126 in Chicken Embryo Fibroblast Cultures

“…Additionally, the use of highly variable domains located mainly outside of the virion, responsible for antigenic variation of adenoviruses, has been reported (3,10). The size of the protein depends on the adenovirus species, as well as, the serotype and ranges between 930 and 950 aa (5,11,15). …”