[Endemic poxvirus infection in white storks (Ciconia ciconia) and black storks (Ciconia nigra) in Switzerland].

Thirty young white storks (Ciconia ciconia) and black storks (Ciconia nigra) from a stork restocking station in Switzerland suffered from cutaneous, verrucous pox-efflorescences on legs, feet, beak and eyelids. The poxvirus was demonstrated ultrastructurally. As the endemic was in autumn, mosquitos may be a possible vector. It is uncertain, if the disease is connected with the previously imported storks from the Federal Republic of Germany.