Fowlpox | National Invasive Species Information Center

Scientific Name

Avipoxvirus (Pringle 1999)

Common Name

Fowlpox, avian pox, canarypox, juncopox, mynahpox, pigeonpox, psittacinepox, quailpox, sparrowpox, starlingpox, turkeypox viruses

Native To

Historically occurred worldwide (USGS 1999)

Date of U.S. Introduction

Historically present in the continental U.S.; was first discovered in Hawaii in 1902 (Lebbin et al. 2010; Loope 2010)

Means of Introduction

Probably introduced to Hawaii with imported birds and was spread by introduced mosquito species (Loope 2010)

Impact

Viral disease that infects over 60 species of birds (USGS 1999)

Current U.S. Distribution

Has occurred throughout the U.S.

Avian pox lesions typically are found on featherless parts of the body.

Credit

Wallace R. Hansen

Source

Find more images

The section below contains highly relevant resources for this species, organized by source.

Partnership

International Government

Avian Pox in Alberta [PDF, 1.5 MB]
- Oct 2011
- Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (Canada). Fish and Wildlife.
- See also: Wildlife Diseases in Alberta for more fact sheets

State and Local Government

Michigan Wildlife Disease Manual - Avian Pox
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
- See the complete Wildlife Disease Manual for a list of diseases that are of significance to Michigan wildlife.
Wildlife - Avian Pox
- Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Wildlife Health - Avian Pox
- Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Academic

Disease Fact Sheet - Avian Pox
- Feb 2021
- University of Pennsylvania. School of Veterinary Medicine. Wildlife Futures Program.
Recognizing and Preventing Avian Pox in Small Flocks [PDF, 457 KB]
- Jan 2014
- University of Maryland Extension.
- See also: Small Flock for more resources
Avian Pox in Small Flocks [PDF, 139 KB]
- University of Arkansas. Cooperative Extension Service.
- See also: Hobby and Small Flock Poultry in Arkansas for more factsheets
EDIS - Prevention and Control of Fowl Pox in Backyard Chicken Flocks
- University of Florida. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension.
- Electronic Data Information Source Publication #VM65
Fowl Pox in Backyard Flocks
- Mississippi State University. Extension.

Professional

Citations

Lebbin, D.J., M.J. Parr, and G.H. Fenwick. 2010. Avian malaria and pox. In: The American Bird Conservancy Guide to Bird Conservation (pp. 308-309). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Loope, L. 2010. Hawaiian Islands: Invasions. In: D. Simberloff and M. Rejmanek (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Biological Invasions (pp. 309-319). Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press.
Pringle, C.R. 1999. Virus taxonomy – 1999. Archives of Virology 144(2):421-429.
USGS Biological Resources Division. 1999. Avian pox In: M. Friend. and J.C. Franson (Eds.), Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases: General Field Procedures and Diseases of Birds (Information and Technology Report 1999-001, pp. 163-170). Washington, D.C.: Department of the Interior.