Duck virus enteritis
| Duck plague | |
|---|---|
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| Blood-stained ice from the nasal discharge of a mallard dying from duck plague | |
| Virus classification | |
| Group: | Group I (dsDNA) |
| Order: | Herpesvirales |
| Family: | Herpesviridae |
| Subfamily: | Alphaherpesvirinae |
| Genus: | Mardivirus |
| Species: |
Duck herpesvirus 1 (DHV-1)
Anatid herpesvirus 1 (AHV-1) |
Anatid herpesvirus 1 (AHV-1)
Duck plague (also known as duck viral enteritis) is a worldwide disease caused by duck herpesvirus 1 (anatid herpesvirus 1) of the family Herpesviridae that causes acute disease with high mortality rates in flocks of ducks, geese and swans. It is spread both vertically and horizontally—through contaminated water and direct contact. Migratory waterfowl are a major factor in the spread of this disease as they are often asymptomatic carriers of disease. The incubation period is three to seven days. Birds as young as one week old can be infected. DVE is not zoonotic.
Upon exposure to DVE there is a 3-7 day for domestic fowl and up to a 14 day for wildfowl incubation period for the onset of symptoms. Sudden and persistent increases in flock mortality is often the first observation of DVE. Symptoms in individual birds include loss of appetite, decreased egg production (nearing 20-40% decreases), nasal discharge, increased thirst, diarrhea, ataxia, tremors, a drooped-wing appearance, and in males a prolapsed penis. Mortality rates for DVE may reach 90 percent. Death usually occurs within 5 days after onset of symptoms. The clinical signs of DVE “vary with virulence of virus strain, species, sex, and immune system status” of the host.
Due to the formation of diptheroid plaques on the eyelids and the mucosae of the respiratory system and gastrointestinal system the bird may show ophthalmic signs and refuse to drink.
Anatid Herpesvirus 1 can only infect birds of the Anseriformes order and Anatidae family, with the possible exception of coots. A study of lesions found in “coots (order Gruiformes)” found similarities to DVE lesions. This could be evidence that DVE is able to “cross to different orders and families” or “adapted to new hosts”. Waterfowl species have differing susceptibility to DVE, with wild fowl tending to be more resistant. Nonwaterfowl have not been shown to be infected by Duck Plague.Blue-winged teal have been found to be one the least susceptible species and Mallards one of the most. In another it took 300,000 more virus material it infect northern pintail than to infect blue-winged teal.
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Wikipedia