Psittacinepox Virus

Overview of Psittacinepox

Parrotpox is caused by the psittacosis virus, a double-stranded DNA virus that belongs to the genus Avianpox of the poxviridae family. There are other nine well-known species in the poxviridae family, including: canarypox virus, juncopox virus, mynahpox virus, sparrowpox virus, fowlpox virus, pigeonpox virus, turkeypox virus, starlingpox virus and quailpox virus.

There are two clinical manifestations of the disease: diphtheria and cutaneous psittacosis. Skin forms usually include featherless skin around the beak and eyes. On histopathological examination, nasal bone epithelium and osteoblasts contained eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions in the spinous layer. Transmission electron microscopy of infected bird beak tissue shows brick-shaped virions with a double-concave dumbbell-shaped core.

Hot Topcis of Psittacinepox Virus

A report on psittacosis virus research: introduction to virus isolation and identification, transmission and cross-challenge studies in parrots and chickens.

The study indicated that specific pathogen-free chicks vaccinated with the isolated virus developed the same skin lesions as parrots. Chickens vaccinated against fowl pox and pigeon pox and vaccinated with psittacosis isolates developed typical fowl pox lesions. Chickens vaccinated against parrot virus are susceptible to fowlpox and pigeonpox viruses. Therefore, this poxvirus isolate can be considered as a potential pathogen in chickens.

Visual Examples of Psittacinepox Virus

Clinical signs: Clinically, crusting is observed on the legs and eyelids, base of the beak, and diphtheria mucosa is observed in the upper gastrointestinal tract and respiratory tract.

Figure 1. Pox lesion in an African grey parrot.(Revue de médecine vétérinaire, 2004)

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Reference

1. Tarello W. Avian pox in psittacine birds from Saudi Arabia[J]. Revue de médecine vétérinaire, 2004, 155(10): 483-485.