Epornitic of papova-like virus-associated disease in a psittacine nursery

Of 45 fledgling psittacine birds being raised in an avian nursery, 14 died over a 6-week period. At necropsy, several birds were found to have a moderate amount of subcutaneous hemorrhage over the crop and across the dorsum. Histologically, all birds had hepatic necrosis. Large pale to lightly basophilic intranuclear inclusions were seen in the spleen of 6 birds and in the liver of 5 birds examined. Ultrastructural evaluation demonstrated intranuclear virus particles resembling the papovavirus incriminated as the agent responsible for budgerigar fledgling disease.