Diagnosis of polyomavirus-induced hepatic necrosis in psittacine birds using DNA probes

Liver sections from 32 psittacine birds with multifocal to coalescing hepatocellular necrosis were examined to determine the cause of disease. Avian polyomavirus (APV) infection (19 of 32 birds), bacterial hepatitis (5 of 32 birds), and chlamydiosis (3 of 32 birds) were major causes of hepatic disease. The presence of APV inclusions or nucleic acid was demonstrated using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, DNA in situ hybridization, and DNA amplification with Southern blotting. Amphophilic intranuclear inclusions, suggestive of APV infection, were observed in HE-stained liver sections from 5 of 32 birds. Hepatocellular karyomegaly was present in liver tissues from 10 birds (5 birds with typical APV inclusions and 5 birds without discernable inclusions). DNA in situ hybridization recognized intranuclear APV nucleic acid in liver sections of 18 of 32 birds. DNA amplification with Southern or dot blots also identified APV nucleic acid in processed, paraffin-embedded livers of 18 of 32 birds. This study demonstrates that acute APV infection is a frequent cause of multifocal to coalescing hepatocellular necrosis in psittacine birds. Furthermore, APV infection is best diagnosed using DNA probes, especially when typical intranuclear inclusions are not observed microscopically.