Contagious paralysis of pigeons.

A disease affecting domestic pigeons characterised by marked contagiousness, high mortality and rapidly progressing paralysis of the extremities is reported. Gross and microscopical findings in naturally affected pigeons are given. A viral agent was isolated and found to be a herpesvirus. Reproduction of the disease in domestic pigeons with the isolated virus and its reisolation suggests it may be causally related to the condition.