Pesaro Stefano, Volpatti Donatella, Baggio Alice, Verin Ranieri, Genero Fulvio, Sicuro Luca, Galosi Livio, Biagini Lucia, Perlin Isabella, Robino Patrizia, Colitti Barbara, Avanzato Daniele, Rossi Giacomo
Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale Delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
Animals (Basel). 2025 Jul 25;15(15):2190. doi: 10.3390/ani15152190.
The griffon vulture () is a scavenger species that plays a vital ecological role in carrion removal. Successful survival and reproduction in captive and wildlife conditions require optimal physical status and plumage integrity. Nutritional and environmental factors, systemic diseases, and various etiological agents can influence feather alterations. Although frequently documented in captive psittacine species, feather abnormalities are extremely rare in wild birds. Since 2020, two free-living griffon vultures in northeastern Italy have been found in poor physical condition, unable to fly due to partial feather loss and malformation of remiges and rectrices. Histopathologic examination of follicles and peri-follicular tissue revealed atrophy, keratin replacement, vasculitis, and calamus dystrophy with lymphohistiocytic perivasculitis. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis identified the presence of virus-like particles in epithelial and inflammatory cells. Although virome analysis did not confirm the presence of this virus in pooled affected samples, this study provides the first report of an emerging plumage disorder in free-ranging griffon vultures, which requires further characterization.
兀鹫是一种食腐动物，在清除腐肉方面发挥着至关重要的生态作用。在圈养和野生环境中成功生存和繁殖需要最佳的身体状况和羽毛完整性。营养和环境因素、全身性疾病以及各种病原体都可能影响羽毛变化。虽然在圈养鹦鹉物种中经常有记录，但羽毛异常在野生鸟类中极为罕见。自2020年以来，在意大利东北部发现了两只自由生活的兀鹫，它们身体状况不佳，由于部分羽毛脱落以及飞羽和尾羽畸形而无法飞行。对毛囊和毛囊周围组织的组织病理学检查显示萎缩、角质替代、血管炎以及羽根营养不良伴淋巴细胞性血管周围炎。免疫组织化学和超微结构分析确定上皮细胞和炎症细胞中存在病毒样颗粒。尽管病毒组分析未在合并的受影响样本中证实这种病毒的存在，但本研究首次报告了自由放养的兀鹫中出现的一种新的羽毛疾病，这需要进一步的特征描述。
