Adenovirus infection in Mauritius kestrels (Falco punctatus)

Two similar highly fatal disease outbreaks occurred a year apart in separate populations of captive Mauritius kestrels (Falco punctatus) housed at the same raptor center. Sudden death was associated with few premonitory signs, but hemorrhagic diarrhea was sometimes observed. Consistent gross pathologic findings included hepatosplenomegaly and petechial hemorrhages throughout the gastrointestinal tract, which contained hemorrhagic fecal material. Histopathologic examination identified systemic necrotizing vasculitis and hepatitis associated with numerous intranuclear inclusion bodies. Adenovirus particles were subsequently detected in infected hepatocytes by electron microscopy. An adenovirus was isolated from the liver and spleen of a representative dead Mauritius kestrel, as well as from turkey poults and 1-day-old domestic fowl chicks that had been fed to the kestrels at the time of the first and second outbreaks, respectively.