Pigeonpox Virus

Overview of Pigeonpox

Pigeon pox is a normal viral disease in susceptible pigeons which are not vaccinated. It is characterized by pox scabs, most commonly found on the featherless parts of birds. The pigeon pox virus can be spread through droplet infection from one animal to another, or through the digestion of infected insects or polluted food or water. There are other nine well-known species in the poxviridae family, including: canarypox virus, juncopox virus, mynahpox virus, sparrowpox virus, fowlpox virus, psittacinepox virus, turkeypox virus, starlingpox virus and quailpox virus.

Pigeon pox is related to other pox viruses by its ability to multiply solely in the cytoplasm of the cells it invades. Pigeon pox has a deoxyribonucleic acid core which largely occurs as double stranded molecules. Brick-shaped virus particles are among the largest virus particles, ranging in length from 200 to 300 nanometers.

Hot Topcis of Pigeonpox Virus

The pigeon pox virus can enter the body through the mucous membranes or wound to the skin. There is no direct treatment for a pox virus. In serology, it is interesting that pigeon pox may or may not affect other species of birds, and may or may not engender a high degree of tissue immunity.

• Pigeon pox causes mild disease like dry crusty vesicles on the skin of pigeons (cutaneous pox) and yellow “cheesy” plaques in the mouth (mucosal pox).

Figure 1. Electron micrograph of ultra-thin section of mature pigeon poxvirus.(Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research, 2004)

• Pigeon pox virus causes serious disease in pigeons, it is also a threat to other birds. The pigeon pox virus is easily detected in clinical samples, while it can be complicated with secondary bacterial infections. Pigeon pox virus can be conducted to diagnose pigeon pox virus using nucleic acid molecular techniques.

Visual Examples of Pigeonpox Virus

Clinical signs: cutaneous form of Pigeon pox virus show round, nodular, greyish-white rashes around the eyes, beak, skin, legs, and around the cloaca of infected birds.

Figure 2. Pigeon showing clinical signs of Avipox (Pigeon pox).(Microbiol, 2018)

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References

1. Weli S C, Okeke M I, Tryland M, et al. Characterization of avipoxviruses from wild birds in Norway[J]. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research, 2004, 68(2): 140.
2. Audarya S D, Riyesh T, KumarN C D, et al. Molecular Diagnosis of a Cutaneous Form of Pox in Pigeons at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, India[J]. Int. J. Curr. Microbiol. App. Sci, 2018, 37(9): 1318-1323.