Highly pathogenic fowlpox virus in cutaneously infected chickens, China

Abstract

We investigated an acute outbreak of the cutaneous form of fowlpox among chickens in China in November 2009. Using pathologic and virologic methods, we identified a novel type of fowlpox virus that carried an integrated genomic sequence of reticuloendotheliosis virus. This highly pathogenic virus could lead to severe ecologic effects and economic losses.

Keywords: China; chickens; cutaneous infection; fowlpox; highly pathogenic; viruses.

Figure 1

Macropathologic images of fowlpox virus infection in chickens from a commercial flock in northeastern China. A, B) Severe lesions on the skin in unfeathered areas of the backs (arrows). C) Cutaneous exanthema variolosum of the eyelids (arrowhead). D) Skin pock lesions in the wings (arrowhead).

Figure 2

Macropathologic images of fowlpox virus infection in experimentally infected specific pathogen free (SPF) chickens. China. A) Brown variolar crusts on the combs of 18-day-old SPF chickens at 14 days postinfection (dpi). B) Large areas of brown scabs on the backs of 18-day-old SPF chickens at 14 dpi. C) Multifocal to coalescing pock lesions on the combs of 53-day-old SPF chickens at 14 dpi. D) Cutaneous exanthema variolosum on the combs of 145-day-old SPF chickens at 14 dpi.