Viral diseases are a significant challenge facing the poultry industry, negatively impacting productivity and the agricultural economy. Among these viruses is fowl adenovirus (FAdV). The study aims to identify adenovirus in broilers in the Basrah province, Iraq. The study concentrated on clinical symptoms, postmortem lesions, histological abnormalities, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to validate a laboratory diagnosis. From October 2023 to April 2024, the present investigation collected 100 sick 10-day-old chickens from an unusual field in the Abu Sakhir district of Basrah. The poultry laboratory at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Basrah, handled the samples. Euthanized were chicks showing clinical symptoms. Every case was reviewed for gross lesions related to viscera. The livers of infected birds showed microhemorrhages or bruises with localized or diffuse areas of necrosis. The hearts showed a straw-coloured, diffuse fluid accumulation in the pericardial sac. The surface of the kidneys was enlarged and hemorrhagic. Microscopically, the liver exhibited basophilic intranuclear bodies, a necrotic area, and mononuclear cell infiltration. The heart showed vascular congestion in the pericardium, accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration between the muscle fibres. Renal showed hemorrhage and degeneration of the epithelium, mononuclear cell infiltration and basophilic intranuclear bodies. PCR confirmed the presence of the adenovirus genome from infected birds.The study emphasizes the importance of early identification and accurate diagnosis to minimize the impact of FAdV on poultry health and productivity.

Bird species, particularly poultry and other bird types, including domestic pigeons, are susceptible to fowl pox, a contagious viral disease. The main goal of this study was to validate clinical avipoxvirus diagnoses using molecular analytical methods. The essential components of the investigation were the clinical signs, visible abnormalities, histological changes, and polymerase chain reaction analysis. Twenty out of 120 pigeons had clinical symptoms, which included yellowish crust or nodules near the feet, eyes, and beak. An erosive epidermal lesion and an epidermal acanthotic papular lesion with basal vacuolation were maculopapular evidence associated with significant epidermal hyperkeratosis, as confirmed by histological analysis. In addition, the results showed keratinocyte necrosis beneath the hyperkeratotic epidermal layer, together with superficial and deep dermal perivascular lymphocytic infiltration. In addition, the P4b core protein gene underwent phylogenetic analysis. The sequence analysis results indicated a high degree of similarity across the local strains, with just minor variations observed. Five sample sequences were selected and submitted to the NCBI database. These sequences were identified as OR187728, OR187729, OR187730, OR187731, and OR187732. All the various strains in this research may be classified under clade A of the chicken pox virus phylogenetic classification. This study presents the first description and characterization of pox virus infections in domestic pigeons inside the Basrah governorate.