Non-West Nile virus-associated mortality in a population of American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos): a gross and histopathologic study.

Abstract

The American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is a common urban and rural inhabitant of the Northeast and Midwest United States that is commonly infected with West Nile virus (WNV). The current study was initiated to determine non-WNV-associated causes of mortality in the American crow. All animals (40/40) tested negative for WNV infection via polymerase chain reaction and had no evidence of infection based on immunohistochemistry. Common gross necropsy findings included external trauma (6/40), hepatosplenomegaly (6/40), poxviral dermatitis (5/40), and pneumonia (3/40). Common histologic findings included endoparasitism (32/40), multifocal hepatic and splenic necrosis (7/40), pigment accumulation in the spleen (5/40), and disseminated bacterial infection (3/40). The most significant and debilitating diseases included fungal pneumonia and poxvirus-associated lesions. The present report increases the knowledge of diseases present in the American crow population.