Since fowlpox is among the largest of viruses more than 200 genes encoding for essential and non-essential proteins it is not surprising to find spontaneous, natural genetic engineering occurring between distinct viruses attacking the same birds, he said. In large poultry operations, birds face multiple pathogens. Most birds recover from dry pox within three to five weeks but not without losses in egg production or growth. The scabs from dry pox that fall from infected birds can contain millions of virus particles and survive for months in the poultry environment. Infection can spread into injured or lacerated skin, and by birds inhaling dust containing the particles.
Mosquitoes also can transmit the disease.
Tripathy and his colleagues are researching a new generation of poultry vaccines.