bird diseases

..Comparative tests with throat swab samples from humans and fecal and cloacal swab samples from birds confirmed that the new PCR is faster and up to 100-fold more sensitive than classical virus isolation procedures...

..On the basis of subcellular location, UL24 appeared to be predominantly nuclear membrane-associated, especially at later times in infection, and provided a good tool to further study the biofunctions of UL24 protein...

..This study suggests that natural mortality in house sparrows due to Old World strains of WNV may be occurring where the KEN strain occurs...

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..Mycoplasma species other than M gallisepticum were cultured in 18 batches of pheasants but, with the exception of Mycoplasma gallinaceum, were not associated with disease...

..The results imply that it is a novel avian poxvirus. To our knowledge this is the first report of avian poxvirus infection in white-tailed sea eagles...

..Monitoring such densities may be helpful because this factor may be determined without the delays associated with specimen collection and testing...

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..This is the first clinical description of an avipoxvirus infection in stone curlews...

..Our primary aim is to identify gaps in current knowledge and to propose areas for future study...

..gallinarum pathogenicity should be re-examined with regard to specific genetic groups and zoonotic potential of some of these lineages should be considered...

..Additionally, health monitoring of confiscated birds should continue after birds are integrated into captive flocks...

..3.4 viruses are established in poultry in Asia, the emergence of clade 2.3.2 viruses in nonpasserine birds from Hong Kong, Japan, and Russia raises the possibility that this virus lineage may have become established in wild birds...

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..Furthermore, chickens experimentally infected with pigeon poxvirus had higher antibody titers and extensive lesions compared to other isolates. This may suggest that pigeon poxvirus is more virulent than the other isolates...

..Some of the birds also had concurrent bacterial, mycotic and polyomavirus infections. Poxvirus was isolated from lungs and skin in chicken embryo liver cells and confirmed as avian poxvirus by polymerase chain reaction...

..This report is the first to describe avian pox lesions associated with the application of beak-bits and the resulting beak and oral pathology...

..Based on the phylogenetic analysis, the virus isolated from these flamingos was genetically close to those isolated from pigeons, suggesting the possibility of interspecies transmission...

..Our findings demonstrate the potential impacts of an invasive species on a diverse faunal assemblage across broad geographical scales, and underscore the complexity of subsequent community response...

..MG targets upper respiratory and ocular tissue. Our observations show that a pathogen that does not directly disrupt carotenoid absorption or transportation can still have a significant effect on carotenoid utilization...

..Thus, based on the genetic distinctness of the two Hawaiian bird viruses, they appear to represent different strains of avipoxvirus...

..Based on these results, we suggest that an epiornitic in birds occurred in 2007, but that greatly reduced abundance of mosquito vectors caused by an extreme drought largely precluded human infection...

..However, analysis of fpv139 locus does not reveal similarities of the isolate with other avian poxviruses...

..Electron microscopy revealed numerous pox virions in the inclusion bodies. This is the first report of cutaneous poxvirus infection in a Hodgson's grandala...

..As such it has implications for wildlife biologists, veterinarians and conservationists of avian biodiversity...

..The flukes were identified using light microscopy of organisms obtained by antemortem wedge biopsy. Intraepithelial cytoplasmic inclusions consistent with poxvirus infection were seen on histopathologic examination of the mass...

..These phenotypic and evolutionary results provide compelling evidence for the positive selection of a mutation encoding increased viremia potential and virulence in the AMCR sentinel bird species...

..The efficiency of dispersal of pathogenic microorganisms depends on a wide variety of biotic and abiotic factors affecting the survival of the agent in, or disappearance from, a habitat or ecosystem in a new geographic area...

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..Continuing influenza virus surveillance in poultry is critical to understanding the genesis and emergence of potentially pandemic strains in this region...

..This North American WN virus was most closely related to a WN virus isolated from a dead goose in Israel in 1998...

..More than 90% of the infections were typed as Borrelia garinii and Borrelia valaisiana. We conclude that thrushes are key players in the maintenance of these spirochete species in this region of Central Europe...

..More importantly, if the level of non-viraemic transmission is high enough the virus can persist in the absence of the viraemic host. This result has important implications for the control of tick borne diseases...

..The apparent susceptibility of lesser scaup to WNV demonstrated in this study may have implications for declining lesser scaup populations in the wild...

..In sharp contrast, the immunocompromised patient may have a nearly 1000-fold greater risk of acquiring mycotic disease from feral pigeons and their excreta than does the general population...

..Clinical signs, autopsy findings and histopathological findings are described. No pattern or common source for these cases could be identified. The implications for Australian aviculture and avifauna are discussed...

..The test was therefore unsatisfactory for detecting galactomannan in the serum samples and cannot be used as a screening test for aspergillosis in falcons...

..Together with established serologic tests for falcon adenovirus, these molecular assays are valuable tools for management and conservation of falcons in captivity and the wild...

..Retrospective spatial analysis demonstrated that age-adjusted human case rates were three times higher inside geographic areas with high early-season crow deaths than outside these areas...

..Histopathologic lesions in all birds consisted of multifocal lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of myenteric and cardiac nerves and ganglia. These lesions are characteristic of proventricular dilatation disease of psittacine birds...

..Further studies would be important to delineate whether the Asian leopard cat CoV was a result of interspecies jumping from birds, a situation analogous to that of bat and civet severe acute respiratory syndrome CoVs...

..WNV virulence in birds seemed critical in establishing elevated viremias necessary to efficiently infect blood feeding Culex mosquitoes...

..The effect contributes to the decline in offspring survival as the breeding season progresses and hence has important population-level consequences for this, and potentially other, seasonal breeders...

..However, there is no report on the UL31 gene product of DEV. In this study, we expressed and presented the basic properties of the DEV UL31 product...

..Here we describe a fluorescent quantitative real-time PCR (FQ-PCR) method developed for fast measurement of AHV-1 DNA based on TaqMan MGB technology...

..Phage typing of 52 randomly selected isolates of serovar Typhimurium O:4,12 from passerines detected four types: DT 40 (54%), U277 (35%), DT 99 (6%), and DT 110 (4%)...

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..Of the 41 wild birds evaluated in the area, 3 (4%) had EEE virus-neutralizing antibody. Immature Culiseta melanura (the most probable mosquito vector) were found in scattered foci 5 km from the research center...

..An attempt to distinguish between strains on the basis of amplification product was partially successful...

..Staten Island had the highest MIR (11.42 for Cx. pipiens), which was associated with the highest proportion of dead American Crows that tested positive for WN virus (92%, n=48) and the highest number of human cases (n=10)...

..Thus, it is possible that regional and annual variations in the prevalence of Sindbis antibodies in Swedish passerine species depend on the number of fieldfares, redwings, and songthrushes available for feeding by vector mosquitoes...

..This common feature emphasizes the apparent propensity of avian viruses with this genetic complement to infect humans and highlights the potential for the emergence of a novel human pathogen...

..Our results support the concept that chickens and House Sparrows are good arbovirus sentinels. This study also implicates the House Sparrow as an important vertebrate reservoir host...

..If this is the case it will be necessary to define the strategies for detection of virus overwintering in the European temperate climate...

..The potential health risk posed to humans and animals by these viruses circulating in the UK is discussed...

..garinii, similar to the association existing between small rodents and B. afzelii. Our observations emphasize the fact that different enzootic cycles maintain Lyme borreliosis spirochetes in nature...

..Hence, vaccination for colibacillosis is not widely practised because of the large variety of serogroups involved in field outbreaks...

..If so, West Nile virus has the potential to cause outbreaks throughout both temperate and tropical regions of the Western Hemisphere...

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..Due to the large geographic area covered by this species, their utility as a WNV sentinel species may include most of the eastern United States...

..Yet, the positive association between dead bird surveillance and equine WNV risk remains strong and statistically significant, indicating that dead bird surveillance remains a valuable tool of WNV surveillance...

..Eighty-one were at the generic and 31 at the specific level of the hematozoa. Hepatozoon and Atoxoplasma spp. were detected for the first time in Uganda...

..Avian species with high WNV seroprevalence rates tended to be those that bred throughout the year, have open cup nests, and live in close proximity to humans...

..The sensitivities of RAMP and VecTest for testing corvid species were 91.0% and 82.1%, respectively...

..West Nile virus (Flavivirus: Flaviviridae; WNV) has spread rapidly throughout the Caribbean Basin since its initial detection there in 2001. This report summarizes our current knowledge of WNV transmission in tropical America...

..Evolutionary analysis of Merion strain sequences indicates that this strain is distinct phylogenetically from the previously reported WNV strains...

..There is currently no human vaccine and treatment is symptomatic only. A best preventive measure combines personal protection to prevent mosquito bites with reducing the number of mosquitoes...

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..Species composition of the scavenger assemblage was similar in urban and rural areas but "scavenging pressure" was greater in rural areas...

..While WNV antigen-capture assays were effective screening tools for corvids, they were markedly less sensitive for Western Scrub Jays (Aphelocoma californica)...

..India and Myanmar shared more host species and habitat types compared to South Korea. Comparison between low-elevation habitat in India and Myanmar showed a difference in prevalence of haematozoans...

..Hen titers were significantly correlated to chick titers. Mean half-life of maternal WNV antibodies was 13.4 days in chicks for which half-life was measurable...

..Significant differences in antibody titer over time were detected for black-footed penguins and both flamingo species...

..Subsequent analysis of 44 isolates, including 19 new sequences, from Houston, Texas, suggests that WNV has reached relative genetic stasis at the local level in recent years...

..The results also demonstrate the seasonal nature of AVM events...

..Adult and hatch-year exposure rates did not differ significantly...

..The obtained lists of bird species potentially involved in the introduction, amplification and spread of WNV should prove useful to determine target species on which further studies on WNV ecology in birds could be focused...

..These results indicate that WNV transmission and evolutionary dynamics can vary seasonally and in response to fine-scale environmental conditions and landscape characteristics related to urbanization...

..These methods allow the comparison between strains from birds to patients living around them, with high level of discrimination...

..The continued detection of WNV in the mosquitoes is of significant public health concern and calls for continued surveillance and public health activities...

..Migratory passerines had a higher prevalence of WNV neutralizing antibodies (7.0%) than did resident and short-distance migratory passerines (0.8%), suggesting exposure to WNV or a related flavivirus during overwintering in Africa...

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..We concluded that cowbirds may be more resistant to infection to both native and introduced viruses because they experience heightened exposure to a variety of pathogens of parenting birds during the course of their parasitic life style...

..0%); sera from herring gulls had antibodies against Dhori virus (16.7%); there were no specific antibodies to Inco (Bunyaviridae, Orthobunyavirus) and mountain hare (Lepus timidus) (Bunyaviridae, Orthobunyavirus) virus...

..Since these storks were migrating southwards for the first time and had not flown over Israel, we assume that they had become infected with WNV at some point along their route of migration in Europe...

..To isolate and characterise avian paramyxoviruses and other haemagglutinating viruses amongst Victorian wild bird populations...

..These observations provide supportive evidence that hematozoa infections are acquired on the breeding grounds during the first year of life and relapse during the breeding season in subsequent years...

..Investigations into the prevalence and incidence of WNV infections in German bird populations as well as in dead end hosts such as humans and horses should provide information regarding the potential risk represented by WNV...

..Our data indicate that both SLE and WN viruses can coexist, despite their ecologic, antigenic, and genetic similarities, and that both viruses will probably persist in this geographic region...

..In combination with detection of WN-specific antigens in tissues by immunohistochemistry (IHC) the blocking ELISA will also be useful for confirming WN infection in diseased birds...

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..We extend this method to a seasonally variable mosquito population and outline a multi-year model framework. The model's numerical simulations predict disease levels that are consistent with independent data...

..The presence of unique patterns of small numbers of mutations in North American West Nile strains studied to date may suggest the absence of a strong selective pressure to drive the emergence of dominant variants...

..Studies will assess how alternating sequential infections between vertebrate and vector species that are part of the natural transmission cycle may alter virus genetics and fitness. ..

..Virus ecology at wetlands in the Coachella Valley of southeastern California with consistent enzootic activity will be compared with wetlands in the southern San Joaquin Valley where virus activity currently is intermittent. ..

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..Quantitative delineation of these events and their precursors may allow skillful forecasting and enhance decision support systems to trigger timely intervention. ..

..Quantitative delineation of these events and their precursors may allow skillful forecasting and enhance decision support systems to trigger timely intervention. ..

..e., colony sites) can be reliably identified and ecological hypotheses tested. ..

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..These studies will provide insight into HIV persistence in HAART patients, and potentially provide a model that can be used to evaluate strategies for actual elimination of lentiviral infections. ..

..In addition, fundamental knowledge of viral replication and pathogenesis will provide insight for the development of vaccine and antiviral strategies. ..

..Thus, the proposed experiments will increase our understanding of the functional consequences of hearing impairment in these birds, and of hearing impairment in general. ..

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..Current and previous work on West Nile virus presents an opportunity to attack the problem head-on with this multi- scale approach, which will facilitate public health intervention for this, and other vector-borne diseases. ..

..A future application of the data is the control of bacterial pathogens through the identification and production of bacteriophage-encoded products. ..

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..A more complete understanding of the etiopathogenesis of hepatobiliary disease and hepatocellular carcinoma is likely to result in new strategies for treatment and prevention of these important human diseases. ..

..The effects of exposure to direct sunlight or of spirochetal infection on questing by immature ticks also will be determined...

..The EIAV system provides an excellent and tractable experimental model for study of evolutionary change in retroviruses, and for understanding the evolution and determinants of virulence. ..

..The candidate genes will be cloned and sequenced, and the products or functions deduced from existing genomic databases. ..

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..By determining how viral infection leads to KS, we hope to identify molecular targets that can explain how the disease arises; these could also serve as targets for the therapies of the future. ..

..By determining how viral infection leads to KS, we hope to identify molecular targets that can explain how the disease arises; these could also serve as targets for the therapies of the future. ..

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..In addition, detailed studies of the mechanisms of HDV RNA replication will be conducted, with emphasis on the involvement of host factors in this important reaction. ..

..These studies should provide new molecular clues to the potential roles of KSHV/HHV8 in KS and could identify new targets for therapeutic intervention in the future. ..

..We will also attempt to use this improved understanding of the hepadnavirus life cycle to explore the possibility of generating replication- competent hepadnaviruses which can deliver foreign DNA sequences to liver cells...