An Epornitic of Duck Virus Enteritis (Duck Plague) in California

Abstract

SUMMARY An epornitic of duck virus enteritis ( dve ) in an outdoor aviary in San Francisco, Calif., resulted in the death of an entire resident population of Muscovy ducks (46/46) and presumably other species of waterfowl. Clinical signs were usually not seen, but some birds were depressed and had diarrhea prior to death. Necropsy of 5 Muscovy ducks revealed lesions typical of the disease; these were ulceration with pseudomembranes in the small intestine, annular band ulceration in the small intestine, ulceration with plaque-like pseudomembranes in the esophagus, and eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions in hepatocytes near foci of necrosis in the liver. The diagnosis was confirmed by virus isolation and identification (by serum neutralization).