Isolation and characterization of avipoxviruses from wild birds in Western Australia

Abstract

Avipoxviruses were isolated from wart-like lesions in an Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) and a silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), and the poxvirus aetiology of wart-like lesions in a magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) was confirmed. The three viruses produced typical pock lesions on the chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated eggs and were able to replicate in trypsin-dispersed chick embryo fibroblast cultures but not confluent monolayer cultures. Pock neutralization and immunodiffusion studies showed that the three wild bird isolates were distinct from fowlpox, although antigenically closer to fowlpox than pigeonpox. The magpie and silvereye isolates were more closely related to each other than to the magpie-lark isolate.

Genomic Characterisation of a Novel Avipoxvirus Isolated from an Endangered Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi)

“…Mechanical transmission by biting arthropods is thought to play a role in the transmission of avipoxviruses within wild bird populations. Ticks, fleas [ 40 ], hippoboscid flies [ 41 ], and mosquitos [ 20 , 42 ] are all potential mechanical vectors. It would therefore seem likely that, as for other avipoxviruses, transmission of ALPV in the northern royal albatross is also mediated by insect vectors.…”

Evidence of a Possible Viral Host Switch Event in an Avipoxvirus Isolated from an Endangered Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi)

“…Another potential route of virus transmission is mechanical, where biting arthropods are assumed to play a part in the spread of avipoxviruses within wild bird populations. Ticks, fleas [60], hippoboscid flies [61], and mosquitos [19,62] may all play a role as mechanical vectors. Northern royal albatrosses also congregate at breeding colonies where transmission of avipoxviruses by insect vectors is likely to occur.…”