Enteritis associated with adeno-virus-like particles in captive lorikeets

Avian adenoviruses infect a wide variety of avian species and consist of three serologically distinct groups.1 Group I avian adenoviruses are widely distributed throughout the world and have been associated with inclusion body hepatitis in chickens, pigeons and other species, bronchitis in quail, and a number of other conditions in chickens and turkeys, including respiratory disease and growth retardation.1,2 There is conflicting evidence regarding the primary pathogenicity of adenovirus in many of these conditions.1 Group II avian adenoviruses are widely distributed throughout the world and are the primary aetiological agents of haemorrhagic enteritis in turkeys, marble spleen disease in pheasants and splenomegaly in chickens.3 Group III avian adenoviruses are the cause of egg shell defects in chickens (egg drop syndrome).1 Infection with adenovirus or adenovirus-like organisms has been reported in a number of psittacine species,1,4-7 and in Australia adenoviruslike particles have been reported in a cockatiel, peach-faced lovebirds and a princess parrot (R Doneley, personal communication). 1,8 This report describes necrotising enteritis associated with intranuclear inclusion bodies and adenovirus-like particles in captive lorikeets