Avian poxvirus infection in Polish great tits (Parus major)

Abstract

Introduction: Avian poxvirus infections are widespread in the domestic poultry population but are also reported in wild birds. In poultry, these infections cause significant economic losses, while wild birds may be a reservoir for poxvirus which affects breeding poultry. However, wild birds may also exhibit characteristic anatomopathological changes. This study concerns the infection of wild-living great tits (Parus major) with the avian poxvirus in Poland.

Keywords

• great tits
• avian poxvirus
• pcr
• phylogenetic analysis