Vol. 8, Issue 1, Part A (2023)

Author(s): Daniel Thomas Yoksa, Dauda Luka Mohzo, Raymond Habila Gapsiso and Yusuf Abba

Abstract: Fowl pox is an important viral disease of avian species which have been identified in over 60 species of wild birds. It is caused by a virus belonging to the family Poxviridae and the genus Avipoxvirus. Transmission within a flock tends to be rapid in seasons when mosquitoes are abundant. Pox is a slow-spreading disease which exists in two forms; the first form of the disease also known as the cutaneous or dry pox is spread by biting insects (especially mosquitoes), which cause discrete nodular proliferative skin lesions on the combs, wattles, beak and shank. The second form is spread by inhalation of the virus and causes fibrinonecrotic diphtheritic membrane to form in the mouth, pharynx, larynx, trachea and oesophagus. A client brought a carcass to the necropsy unit of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. Physical examination revealed dry nodular lesions on the head and shanks. The oral cavity revealed creamy-white nodular lesion. Esophagus, proventricular and testicular serosa also had a focal nodule. Histological in the skin there was ballooning degeneration of the keratinocytes with eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions. The testes also had degeneration with lymphocytic infiltration of the seminiferous tubules. Secondary bacterial infections are as a result of immunosuppression due to virus. This case report is the first presentation of both dry and diphtheritic pox with lesions extending to the visceral organs.

DOI: 10.22271/veterinary.2023.v8.i1a.462