Avian Pox Discovered in the Critically Endangered Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) from the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Researchers report the first documented case of avian pox in the critically endangered Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata), the world's only tropical albatross, on Española Island in the Galápagos. Between November 2013 and January 2014, 14 nestlings exhibited pox-like lesions, with six succumbing to the disease. Histopathological analysis confirmed avipoxvirus infection via inclusion bodies in tissue samples. Unlike other seabirds and landbirds, which appeared unaffected, this outbreak highlights a significant threat to the species' survival, given its already declining population. The study underscores the urgent need for pathogen monitoring and conservation efforts to mitigate disease impacts on endemic taxa.

Tompkins, E. M., Anderson, D. J., Pabilonia, K. L., & Huyvaert, K. P. (2017). Avian Pox Discovered in the Critically Endangered Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) from the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 53(4), 891. https://doi.org/10.7589/2016-12-264