CASE REPORT: PSITTACINE POX VIRUS INFECTION IN AGAPORNIS ROSEICOLLIS

摘要

This case report describes the outbreak of a combined diphtheritic and cutaneous form of psittacine pox in Agapornis roseicollis in Tainan, Taiwan in June, 2015. Scabs were observed on the legs and eyelids, the bases of beaks, and diphtheritic mucousmembranes were observed on the upper digestive and respiratory tracts, too. In histopathological examinations, epitheliums and osteoblasts in nasal bone contained eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in stratum spinosum. The infected bird beaktissue exhibited brick-shaped virions with biconcave dumbbell-shaped core by transmission electron microscopy. From the previous reports, psittacine pox virus in Taiwan may be more virulent than other reported strains and still occurs as a sporadic disease in Taiwan. This is the first report in the world discussed about the infection of osteoblast by poxvirus.