| Avipoxvirus | |
|---|---|
Virus classification 
| |
| (unranked): | Virus |
| Realm: | Varidnaviria |
| Kingdom: | Bamfordvirae |
| Phylum: | Nucleocytoviricota |
| Class: | Pokkesviricetes |
| Order: | Chitovirales |
| Family: | Poxviridae |
| Subfamily: | Chordopoxvirinae |
| Genus: | Avipoxvirus |
| Species | |
Avipoxvirus (avian pox) is a genus of viruses within the family Poxviridae. Poxviridae is the family of viruses which cause the afflicted organism to have poxes as a symptom. Poxviruses have generally large genomes, and other such examples include smallpox and monkeypox. Members of the genus Avipoxvirus infect specifically birds. Avipoxviruses are unable to complete their replication cycle in non-avian species.[1] Although it is comparably slow-spreading, Avipoxvirus is known to cause symptoms like pustules full of pus lining the skin and diphtheria-like symptoms. These diphtheria-like symptoms might include diphtheric necrotic membranes lining the mouth and the upper respiratory tract. Like other avian viruses, it can be transmitted through vectors mechanically such as through mosquitoes.[2] There is no evidence that this virus can infect humans.[3]
Avipoxvirus is a virus that is brick-shaped and is usually 200 nanometres in diameter. This is much larger than many other viruses, which may be around 60 nanometres in diameter. This virus can be contracted only through vectors and consumption of infected items, but they can be filtered by a special water filter. This filter is called a Large Volume Water Sampler (LVWS).
Unlike other viruses, Avipoxvirus can withstand extreme dryness. With this advantage, it can spread on dust particles. This is because it has adapted to living in the dry mucous membranes of an infected host's upper respiratory tract.
The effects of this virus might increase the difficulty of breathing, eating, and drinking significantly. Exterior lesions usually are restricted to the nonfeathered parts of the body, especially the face and legs, where there is the characteristic proliferative and necrotizing dermatitis.[4] Another feature of this bird pox that has been observed is the presence of blood sacs or blisters filled with bloody fluid that will collapse when pierced with a needle and allowed to drain.[5] This virus has the highest mortality rate in upland game birds such as pheasant, quail, and chukar partridge, as well as in songbirds, seabirds such as gulls, parrots, and some raptors such as the peregrine falcon.
- ^ Vanderplasschen, A; Pastoret, PP (2003). "The uses of poxviruses as vectors". Current Gene Therapy. 3 (6): 583–95. doi:10.2174/1566523034578168. PMID 14683453.
- ^ "Fowlpox in Chickens and Turkeys". The Merck Veterinary Manual. 2006. Retrieved 21 June 2007.
- ^ "USGS National Wildlife Health Center" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 May 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
- ^ Fischer, John R. (1999-03-22) DISEASES OF WILDLIFE: AFIP REVIEW OF GROSS MORBID ANATOMY OF ANIMALS, C.L. Davis, DVM Foundation.
- ^ Michener, Harold & Michener, Josephine R. (1936). "Abnormalities in Birds". Condor. 38 (3): 102–109. doi:10.2307/1363908. JSTOR 1363908.