Poxvirus outbreak in Magellanic penguins from Argentine Patagonia

UHART, M.; RAGO, V.; PEREDA A.; BELDOMÉNICO, P.

Edmonton, Alberta

Conferencia; 57th Annual International Conference of the Wildlife Disease Association; 2008

Wildlife Disease Association

Avian pox is a slow-developing disease of birds caused by an avi-pox virus which can cause skin lesions(cutaneous form) and/or upper respiratory and digestive tract mucosa lesions (diphtheritic form). Natural poxvirus infection has been reported in about 232 bird species belonging to 23 orders, including penguins and albatrosses. We report a penguin pox outbreak which occurred in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) during the 2007-2008 breeding season at two breeding colonies in Chubut, Argentina. All animals with pox lesions were chicks with apparently healthy parents. A total of 37 live chicks were examined, varying in degrees of infection and general condition. The animals had lesions on their beaks and mouths, in and around their eyes, neck and face, flippers, feet, cloaca, and anal area. Severe lesions were also found on the feet and beaks of two chick carcasses. Cases seemed to occur in clusters and near tourist walkways in the colonies. Histopathology of tissues from 2 animals showed unspecific inflammatory lesions in a number of internal organs, and dermatitis and inclusions consistent with poxvirus infection in skin lesions. A macerate of scabby lesions from 3 infected penguins tested positive for avian pox virus by PCR. Phylogenetic analysis revealed proximity with an albatross pox virus isolated in the Falkland Islands located in the Atlantic Ocean off the shores of Patagonia. This is the first report of pox virus infection in free-ranging Magellanic penguins from Argentine Patagonia.