Avian pox in a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · J. Wildl. Dis.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-21.3.298· OSTI ID:5942728

Fitzner, R E; Rowe, S E

Avian pox has been reported in at least 60 species of birds belonging to 20 different families. However, poxvirus infection in birds of prey is apparently uncommon. On 18 May 1981, an adult male red-tailed hawk was found on the US Department of Energy's Arid Land Ecology Reserve in Benton County, Washington. The bird was incapable of flight and was extremely thin. Nodular proliferations were noted on both feet and cutaneous scab-like lesions around the beak and eyes. The bird was killed in the field and submitted promptly to the diagnostic laboratory for necropsy. This report of pox infection in a free-living adult red-tailed hawk represents one of the few such cases reported in the US. The potential for spread of the virus to other hawks may occur particularly during the nesting season when an infected adult could conceivably pass the virus to a mate and nestlings by direct contact or fomites. Little is known of the natural of avian pox infection in birds of prey. In other birds it is generally considered mild and self-limiting; however, eye lesions resulting in impaired vision may lead to starvation.

• Research Organization: Battelle, Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5942728
• Journal Information: J. Wildl. Dis.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Wildl. Dis.; (United States) Vol. 21:3; ISSN JWIDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550900* -- Pathology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
BIRDS
BODY
BODY AREAS
CELL PROLIFERATION
DISEASES
EYES
FACE
FEDERAL REGION X
FEET
HEAD
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
LEGS
LIMBS
NATURE RESERVES
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANS
RESOURCES
SENSE ORGANS
USA
VERTEBRATES
VIRAL DISEASES
VISION
WASHINGTON