Abstract
We cultured avian pox (Avipoxvirus spp.) from lesions collected on Hawai‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i, and ‘Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands from 15 native or non-native birds representing three avian orders. Phylogenetic analysis of a 538 bp fragment of the gene encoding the virus 4b core polypeptide revealed two distinct variant clusters, with sequences from chickens (fowlpox) forming a third distinct basal cluster. Pox isolates from one of these two clusters appear closely related to canarypox and other passerine pox viruses, while the second appears more specific to Hawai‘i. There was no evidence that birds were infected simultaneously with multiple pox virus variants based on evaluation of multiples clones from four individuals. No obvious temporal or geographic associations were observed and strict host specificity was not apparent among the 4b-defined field isolates. We amplified a 116 bp 4b core protein gene fragment from an ‘Elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis) collected in 1900 on Hawai‘i Island that clustered closely with the second of the two variants, suggesting that this variant has been in Hawai‘i for at least 100 years. The high variation detected between the three 4b clusters provides evidence for multiple, likely independent introductions, and does not support the hypothesis of infection of native species through introduction of infected fowl. Preliminary experimental infections in native Hawai‘i ‘Amakihi (Hemignathus virens) suggest that the 4b-defined variants may be biologically distinct, with one variant appearing more virulent. These pox viruses may interact with avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum), another introduced pathogen in Hawaiian forest bird populations, through modulation of host immune responses.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant DEB 0083944 and the USGS Wildlife and Invasive Species Programs. We thank Carla Kishinami and the Vertebrate Zoology Section at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii for cooperation and assistance in collecting pox lesions from ‘Elepaio specimens in their collection, Wallace Hansen at the USGS-National Wildlife Health Center for supplying embryonic Muscovy Duck fibroblasts and advice for pox virus cultivation, Alan Lieberman at the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center for pox virus lesions from captive Palila and ‘Alalā, Eric VanderWerf, Fern Duvall, Sam Aruch, Julie Lease, Donna Ball, Eric Tweed, Paul Banko, and Colleen Cole for collecting pox lesions from other species and Leayne Patch for assistance with aviary experiments. Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Mahalo i ka po‘e o Hawai‘i no ko lākou kōkua a me ko lākou aloha. Thank you very much to the people of Hawai‘i for their help and aloha.
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Jarvi, S.I., Triglia, D., Giannoulis, A. et al. Diversity, origins and virulence of Avipoxviruses in Hawaiian Forest Birds. Conserv Genet 9, 339–348 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-007-9346-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-007-9346-7