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ENZOOTIC RETICULOENDOTHELIOSIS IN THE ENDANGEREDATTWATER'S AND GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKENSAuthor(s): Guillermo Zavala, Sunny Cheng, Taylor Barbosa, and Holly HaefeleSource: Avian Diseases Digest, 1(1):e8-e8. 2006.Published By: American Association of Avian PathologistsDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1637/7768.1URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1637/7768.1

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ENZOOTIC RETICULOENDOTHELIOSIS IN THE ENDANGERED ATTWATER’S ANDGREATER PRAIRIE CHICKENS

GUILLERMO ZAVALA,1 SUNNY CHENG,1 TAYLOR BARBOSA,1 AND HOLLY HAEFELE2

1Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA2Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Glen Rose, TX 76043, USA

Three species of prairie chickens are native to North America,including the greater prairie chicken (GPC), the extinct heath hen, andthe Attwater’s prairie chicken (APC). Of the two remaining subspeciesof grouse, the APC is gravely endangered and since 1967 it has beenpart of the Federal Endangered Species List. The primary purpose ofthis investigation was to examine the possible role of reticuloendothe-liosis virus (REV) in APC and GPC mortality and to survey captiveprairie chickens for REV infection.

Reticuloendotheliosis (RE) in captive greater (Tympanuchus cupidopinnatus, GPC) and Attwater’s (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri,APC) prairie chickens was first reported in 1998. RE is caused by avianreticuloendotheliosis virus (REV), an oncogenic and immunosuppres-sive retrovirus infecting multiple species of wild and domestic birds.During August 2004 through May 2006 a captive population of prairiechickens was affected simultaneously with a neoplastic condition andalso avian pox. A survey for REV was conducted in order to examineits possible role in mortality observed primarily in juvenile and adultspecimens of prairie chickens. In total, 57 Attwater’s prairie chickensand 2 greater prairie chickens were included in the study.

Overall, REV was detected or RE diagnosed in 57.62% prairiechickens. The average death age of all birds diagnosed was 2.2 yr old,

ranging from ,1 to 4 yr old. Although deaths associated withneoplasia occurred in males and females in equal proportions basedon submissions, overall more males were diagnosed as REV-infectedor RE-affected. REV was confirmed as a significant cause ofmortality in captive prairie chickens.

The prairie chickens of the South Central United States areregarded as endangered wild birds and have been intermittently onthe verge of extinction. It has been proposed that at least loss ofhabitat and inbreeding resulting from availability of only lownumbers of surviving specimens for reproduction may be responsiblefor a significant decline in the number of prairie chickens. Inaddition, natural or experimental infection with REV has beenreported in various avian species, including chickens, turkeys, quails,peafowl, pheasants, Guinea fowl, ducks and geese. REV in captivegreater (GPC) and Attwater’s prairie chickens (APC), first reportedin 1998, is known to induce delayed growth, stunting, acutemortality, neoplastic disease, feathering abnormalities and immuno-suppression in a variety of species. A survey for REV was conductedto examine the possible role in mortality of captive prairie chickensfrom August 2004 through May 2006. REV was confirmed asa significant cause of mortality.

Copyright E 2006, American Association of Avian Pathologists, Inc. 1933-5334 online

Summarized from Avian Diseases, Vol. 50, No. 4, 2006, Pages 520–525