AVIAN POX - USA (02): (PENNSYLVANIA), EAGLE

Date: Fri 18 May 2012
Source: GoErie.com [edited]
http://reefrescue.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/disease-attacking-barrel-sponges-on-palm-beach-reefs/


A male eagle rescued Tuesday [15 May 2012] evening on Erie's east side is being treated for avian pox virus at the Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Saegertown.

Pennsylvania Game Commission officers rescued the bird from the rooftop of a home in the area of East 10th Street and Downing Avenue at about 6 p.m. on Tuesday [15 May 2012].

The eagle is not injured but has a bad case of avian pox, an infectious, contagious viral disease among birds, said Kris Steiner, a Tamarack assistant wildlife rehabilitator.

"Avian pox is a virus that only affects birds,'' Steiner said. "Also, it is primarily only the young birds and the birds with poor immune function that contract it. Therefore, even though it is a virus, we don't expect to see more birds with it.

"This is a virus that is out in the environment, but healthy birds don't get sick," she said. "This is not of public-health concern. The virus can be spread by either direct contact or indirect contact (when) an infected bird lands on a bird feeder and passes the virus to other birds that are at that feeder later, and by mosquitoes."

Steiner said the virus produces dry, wart-like lesions in nonfeathered areas.

Steiner said the eagle, which she estimated is about one year old, has lesions on its beak, talons and lower legs where they meet the feathers.

"It's ugly and nasty, and he's in a lot of pain right now," Steiner said.

Tamarack staff members are nursing the eagle back to health. Steiner said the staff is washing the eagle's lesions twice a day and treating them with an iodine solution to speed drying and healing.

"He is currently receiving hydrating fluids 3 times a day now, and we are putting drops in his eyes to keep them lubricated since the [lesions] are currently surrounding both eyes," Steiner said. "We will transition him from fluids to solid food by the end of the week. If he begins to show signs of infection from the lesions, we will begin antibiotic treatment."

The eagle is not emaciated, but it is dehydrated and underweight, Steiner said.

"Once we get some weight on him, his immune system should improve and fight the virus on its own," she said. "I think he has a good prognosis."

Steiner said the public can track the eagle's progress by linking Tamarack's Facebook page. From a Facebook account, search for Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center.