Selected herpesviral diseases of birds

Abstract

Most species of birds are probably infected with one or more herpesviruses. In some species these viruses are especially pathogenic (Marek's disease virus in chickens, Pacheco's disease in parakeets), whereas other virus-species combinations do not result in severe disease (psittacine herpesvirus infection of Nanday conures). It is likely that, as more attention is devoted to wild bird populations and their diseases, there will be many more isolations of herpesviruses. In this review, only the more important or better known herpesvirus infections of birds are considered.