Virus Infections of Birds

This fourth volume in the series Virus Infections of Vertebrates provides an up-to-date overview of the main viruses affecting avian species. Its approach is pragmatic, with an emphasis on essential and useful facts rather than on details of disease history or molecular data. The organization of the chapters is strictly hierarchical and follows virus taxonomy. At the beginning of each chapter, a short family description discussing infections caused by viruses in this family is given. The chapters have been written either in an epic style, without subdivisions (when only few data were available) or in subdivisions dedicated to virus properties (physical and chemical characteristics, antigenic properties and cultivation), epizootiology, pathogenesis, disease signs, pathology (gross lesions and histopathology), immune reaction, laboratory diagnosis, prophylaxis and control. Extensive literature references have been provided for further study, as well as a series of overview chapters for syndromes with a multifactorial aetiology or when techniques and methods are discussed.