Observations of Avipoxvirus Infections in Brown Kiwi, Apteryx mantelli, in a Captive-Rearing Facility

Authors: Bean E
Publication: Kokako, Volume 24, Issue 1, pp 1-7, Jun 2017
Publisher: Wildlife Branch of the New Zealand Veterinary Association

Animal type: Wildlife, Avian
Article class: Clinical Report

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Abstract:

Avipoxvirus infections, already known to occur in brown kiwi, Apteryx mantelli, were observed and confirmed in 2 juvenile kiwi (1 bird in 2013, the other in 2015) within the Kiwi Encounter captive-rearing facility. This paper includes a sequence of photographs tracking the physiological changes during treatment. An earlier infection occurred in 2012, in another young kiwi being raised in the facility, which was only subsequently confirmed via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing.

Kiwi Encounter, at Rainbow Springs in Rotorua (38o 08' S, 176o 14' E) is the largest facility in New Zealand for the artificial incubation, hatching and rearing of brown kiwi. It operates as part of the "Operation Nest Egg" kiwi recovery programme and hatches about 100 brown kiwi per year.

In both cases, the infections first appeared on the distal portion of the right side of the upper mandible (i.e., upper part of the bill). The lesions increased rapidly in size until treatment began. The first case was transported to Wildbase in Palmerston North and treated twice daily for a month with antibiotics (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, at 125 mg/kg) and topical iodine solution before being returned to Kiwi Encounter with only a small keratin deficiency remaining.

The bird was released to the wild, at a bodyweight of 1.2 kg, 90 days after the infection had first been seen. The second bird was kept at Kiwi Encounter, in isolation, and given the same basic treatment as the first case and was also able to be released to the wild. Changes to management protocols of the affected birds included avoidance of aggressive debridement and leaving the lesion unsealed.

The avipoxvirus seems to be widespread in the environment, but the incidence of infections has been low. The infections seen at Kiwi Encounter are likely to have followed trauma to the juvenile birds' bills.

Key words: Apteryx mantelli, avian pox, avipoxvirus, bill lesions, brown kiwi, captive rearing.

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