Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Exotic & Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #330897
Title: Natural infections with pigeon paramyxovirus serotype 1: Pathologic changes in Eurasian collared-doves (Streptopelia decaocto) and rock pigeons (Columba livia) in the United States

Author
item ISIDORO-AYZA, M - U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS)
item AFONSO, CLAUDIO
item STANTON, J - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item KNOWLES, S - U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS)
item IP, H - U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS)
item WHITE, C - U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS)
item FENTON, H - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item RUDER, M - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item DOLINSKI, A - MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
item LANKTON, J - U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS)

Submitted to: Veterinary Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2017
Publication Date: 4/6/2017
Citation: Isidoro-Ayza, M., Afonso, C.L., Stanton, J.B., Knowles, S., Ip, H.S., White, C.L., Fenton, H., Ruder, M.G., Dolinski, A.C., Lankton, J. 2017. Natural infections with pigeon paramyxovirus serotype 1: Pathologic changes in Eurasian collared-doves (Streptopelia decaocto) and rock pigeons (Columba livia) in the United States. Veterinary Pathology. 54(4):695-703. doi:10.1177/0300985817695782.

Interpretive Summary: Pigeon paramyxovirus type I (PPMV-1) and virulent Newcastle disease (NDV) are viruses synonymous with Newcastle disease virus, which causes a significant disease of poultry. PPMV-1 has been isolated in the past in wild pigeons in the US and can spillover into chickens causing disease. Identification of the clinical and pathological signs of the disease in wild pigeon is important to be able to detect the virus in the proximity of poultry facilities across different locations in the US. Here the virus distribution in a subset of 17 birds from 10 US outbreaks was studied. Lession are described and implication of the findings presented

Technical Abstract: Pigeon paramyxovirus serotype 1 (PPMV-1) is a globally distributed, virulent member of the avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 serogroup that causes mortality in columbiformes and poultry. Following introduction into the United States in the mid-1980s, PPMV-1 rapidly spread causing numerous mortality events in Eurasian collared-doves (Streptopelia decaocto) (ECDOs) and rock pigeons (Columba livia) (ROPIs). The investigators reviewed pathological findings of 70 naturally infected, free-ranging columbiforms from 25 different mortality events in the United States. Immunohistochemistry targeting PPMV-1 nucleoprotein was used to determine the tissue distribution of the virus in a subset of 17 birds from 10 of the studied outbreaks. ECDOs (61 birds) and ROPIs (9 birds) were the only species in which PPMV-1-associated disease was confirmed by viral isolation and presence of histologic lesions. Acute to subacute tubulointerstitial nephritis and necrotizing pancreatitis were the most frequent histologic lesions, with immunolabeling of viral antigen in renal tubular epithelial cells and pancreatic acinar epithelium. Lymphoid depletion of bursa of Fabricius and spleen was common, but the presence of viral antigen in these organs was inconsistent among infected birds. Hepatocellular necrosis was occasionally present with immunolabeling of hypertrophic Kupffer cells, and immunopositive eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were present in hepatocytes of 1 ECDO. Immunopositive lymphocytic choroiditis was present in 1 ECDO, while lymphocytic meningoencephalitis was frequent in ROPIs in absence of immunolabeling. This study demonstrates widespread presence of PPMV-1 antigen in association with histologic lesions, confirming the lethal potential of this virus in these particular bird species.