Avian pox is an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus that is mechanically transmitted via arthropod vectors or mucosal membrane contact with infectious particles or birds. Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) from two colonies (Punta Tombo and Cabo Dos Bahías) in Argentina showed sporadic, nonepidemic signs of avian pox during five and two of 29 breeding seasons (1982– 2010), respectively. In Magellanic Penguins, avian pox expresses externally as wart-like lesions around the beak, flippers, cloaca, feet, and eyes. Fleas (Parapsyllus longicornis) are the most likely arthropod vectors at these colonies. Three chicks with cutaneous pox-like lesions were positive for Avipoxvirus and revealed phylogenetic proximity with an Avipoxvirus found in Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) from the Falkland Islands in 1987. This proximity suggests a long-term circulation of seabird Avipoxviruses in the southwest Atlantic. Avian pox outbreaks in these colonies primarily affected chicks, often resulted in death, and were not associated with handling, rainfall, or temperature.
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July 01 2012
Avian Pox in Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus)
Olivia J. Kane;
Olivia J. Kane
6
1 Department of Biology, University of Washington, 24 Kincaid Hall, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
2 Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, New York 10460, USA
6 Corresponding author (email: [email protected])
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Marcela M. Uhart;
Marcela M. Uhart
3 Global Health Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, CC 1N19, Puerto Madryn (9120), Chubut, Argentina
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Virginia Rago;
Virginia Rago
3 Global Health Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, CC 1N19, Puerto Madryn (9120), Chubut, Argentina
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Ariel J. Pereda;
Ariel J. Pereda
4 Instituto de Virología, CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), C.C. 25, Castelar (1712), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Jeffrey R. Smith;
Jeffrey R. Smith
1 Department of Biology, University of Washington, 24 Kincaid Hall, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
2 Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, New York 10460, USA
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Amy Van Buren;
Amy Van Buren
1 Department of Biology, University of Washington, 24 Kincaid Hall, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
2 Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, New York 10460, USA
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J. Alan Clark;
J. Alan Clark
1 Department of Biology, University of Washington, 24 Kincaid Hall, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
2 Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, New York 10460, USA
5 Current address: Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, 441 East Fordham Rd., Bronx, New York 10458, USA
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P. Dee Boersma
P. Dee Boersma
1 Department of Biology, University of Washington, 24 Kincaid Hall, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
2 Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, New York 10460, USA
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J Wildl Dis (2012) 48 (3): 790–794.
Article history
Received:
May 27 2011
Accepted:
February 03 2012
Citation
Olivia J. Kane, Marcela M. Uhart, Virginia Rago, Ariel J. Pereda, Jeffrey R. Smith, Amy Van Buren, J. Alan Clark, P. Dee Boersma; Avian Pox in Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). J Wildl Dis 1 July 2012; 48 (3): 790–794. doi: https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-48.3.790
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