Die virusbedingte Hepatosplenitis infectiosa strigorum

Abstract

The gross and histopathology of a viral disease of owls is described on the basis of birds which were autopsied in Vienna over an eight year period. The disease is called hepatosplenitis infectiosa strigorum, the latter word indicating the zoological order (Strigiformes) of birds which are affected; four genera of owls are represented in this report. The clinical illness is not characteristic, and the birds are usually sick but a short time—two to five days. At autopsy, there are numerous necrotic foci in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow representing the essential lesions; frequently, there are also accompanying lesions: stomatitis, laryngitis, esophagitis, proventriculitis and diphtheretic enteritis. Histologically, the organs mentioned have necrotic lesions, consisting of a basophilic central zone of debris surrounded by an eosinophilic ring of necrotic cells. Adjacent to these lesions, intranuclear inclusion bodies of the Cowdry type A are demonstrable, particularly in the liver. The viral etiology (reported elsewhere) has been demonstrated by isolation of an agent from affected owls (in chicken eggs) which is capable of producing the disease in healthy owls. The disease thus appears identical to one reported in the United States 30 years ago. The differential diagnosis from other diseases of owls, both viral and bacterial, is considered in detail. Hepatosplenitis emerges as the major cause of death among the owls submitted for autopsy to the author's institute.