Britain reports first finding of ARV-associated disease in wild bird

Britain confirmed on Tuesday the first finding of disease in a wild bird caused by avian reovirus.

The British government's Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) said the Wildlife Disease Surveillance Partnership confirmed the first finding of the disease in a magpie found dead in the garden of a house in southern England.

An autopsy examination and laboratory testing confirmed the presence of the avian reovirus, which had caused severe necrosis of the liver and spleen, and was identified as the bird's cause of death.

Two further magpies were observed for possible symptoms of the illness at the same site. These birds were presumed to have died, but their carcasses could not be recovered for further investigation.

Richard Irvine, head of scanning surveillance at APHA, said: "Avian reoviruses can cause a range of disease presentations in poultry, captive and wild bird species, and until now ARV has not been reported as a disease of magpies or other wild birds in Great Britain."

"By raising awareness of this finding, any threats posed to other wild birds or poultry can be managed," he added.

Becki Lawson, a research veterinarian at the Zoological Society of London's Institute of Zoology added: "ARV causes disease and mortality in wild corvid (crow family) species in North America and continental Europe. Due to the vigilance of the British public, this is the first identified case in the UK." Endit