An epornitic of duck viral enteritis in a zoological park

An epornitic of duck viral enteritis occurred at the National Zoological Park in the spring of 1975. The disease affected 8 different species of ducks; geese and swan were spared. Diagnosis was based on characteristic pathologic changes, with herpetic inclusion bodies in the epithelium of the digestive tract and liver, and by viral isolation from 4 ducks. An experimental attenuated live-virus vaccine and sanitizing procedures were used to control the epornitic.