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Poxvirus infection
Turkeys are a common bird in the NYS landscape and sometimes when people are observing a flock in their yard, or a hunter harvests a bird, they notice large nodules on the head, mouth and feet. The most common cause for these nodules is infection with avian pox virus. This virus causes the epithelial (outer) surface of the skin to grow rapidly, creating the thick, masses that people see. Poxvirus lesions have very enlarged epithelial cells containing large, eosinophilic (dark pink) viral inclusion bodies called Bollinger bodies.