Outbreak of New castle disease due to pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 in grey partridges (Perdix perdix) in Scotland in October 2006

Abstract

In October 2006, following an initially non-statutory disease investigation affecting 12-week-old grey partridges (Perdix perdix), an outbreak of Newcastle disease due to infection with the avian paramyxovirus type 1 virus responsible for the current panzootic in pigeons (PPMV-1) was confirmed in Scotland. Two pens of partridges were affected by signs including loss of condition, diarrhoea, progressive neurological signs and mortality totalling approximately 24 per cent, and laboratory evidence of the infection was obtained only in these groups. The premises had approximately 17,000 poultry including a collection of 375 birds of rare breeds, containing endangered breeds of significant conservation value, which were not culled but subjected to a health monitoring and testing programme. Investigations suggested that a population of feral pigeons living above the affected pens of partridges was the likely source of the outbreak. Laboratory and genetic analyses confirmed that the isolate recovered from the clinically affected partridges was PPMV-1, belonging to genetic lineage 4b. However, the virus could not be isolated from or detected in dead pigeons collected from the affected buildings.

Occurrence, characteristics and control of pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 in pigeons

“…However, PPMV-1 attacks mostly pigeons and less frequently chickens, but there are cases of this virus being isolated from birds kept in captivity as well as from wild birds, including partridges, pheasants, swans, falcons, blackbirds, cockatoos and budgerigars (Alexander et al 1997b, Aldous et al 2004, Irvine et al 2009, Krapež et al 2010.…”

A molecular epidemiological investigation of avian paramyxovirus type 1 viruses isolated from game birds of the orderGalliformes

“…These isolations covered a period from 1995 to 2006 and all appeared to be the result of spread from pigeons as there were no outbreaks in other poultry at the time they occurred (Alexander et al, 1997a;Irvine et al, 2009).…”

“…In 2005, pheasants presenting with mild ataxia and blindness were confirmed to be infected with virulent NDV, lineage 5b (Aldous et al, 2007); and in 2006, partridges showing clinical signs of loss of condition, diarrhoea, progressive neurological signs and mortality totalling about 30% were also confirmed to be infected with virulent NDV (Irvine et al, 2009). Infections of game birds with APMV-1 viruses are not uncommon, but these outbreaks, in the absence of infections in chickens or turkeys, were of considerable concern for control of this notifiable avian disease.…”

Outbreak of encephalitic listeriosis in red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa)

“…Torticollis, depression and incoordination were a consistent clinical sign in affected birds. These neurological signs cannot be distinguished from those of the notifiable Newcastle Disease, which should be considered a potential differential diagnosis to encephalitic listeriosis (Irvine et al, 2009). …”

“…There can be a large variation in the nature and severity of clinical signs seen in cases of avian notifiable disease (Newcastle disease or Avian Influenza). Therefore any progressive neurological signs in poultry and game birds coupled with an unexplained rise in mortality or drop in production should prompt the consideration of avian notifiable disease as an alternative differential diagnosis (Irvine et al, 2009).…”