Pigeon rotavirus A genotype G18P[17]-associated disease outbreaks after fancy pigeon shows in Germany – a case series

Abstract

Objective Pigeon rotavirus A (RVA) isolates of genotype G18P[17] are causing disease outbreaks and fatalities in pigeon lofts in Australia, Germany, Belgium, Denmark and USA since 2016. Most disease outbreaks have been reported from juvenile pigeons (Columba livia forma domestica). However, reports on RVA-associated disease outbreaks in fancy pigeons in connection with fancy pigeon shows in Germany are rare. Material and methods Overall 18 pigeons (16 fancy pigeons and one racing pigeon from 9 pigeon fanciers, as well as one feral pigeon from a rescue center) were sent in for routine diagnostic necropsy including histopathologic, parasitologic and microbiologic examinations. Molecular biologic examinations for detection of RVA, circovirus, Usutu virus, West Nile virus and Chlamydia psittaci were also carried out on all pigeons. An accompanying questionnaire filled in by the senders was used to generate basic information on the affected pigeon lofts. Results Disease outbreaks in juvenile and adult pigeons were reported 7–14 days after fancy pigeon shows. One fancier who had previously vaccinated his pigeons with an autogenous pigeon RVA vaccine, noted no morbidity and mortality among his pigeons and thus sent in a healthy pigeon for diagnostic purposes. Reported clinical signs in the other pigeons were regurgitation, green slimy diarrhea, anorexia, apathy and death after 24 hours. Hepatic necrosis and detection of pigeon RVA isolates of genotype G18P[17] confirmed disease outbreaks caused by pigeon RVA in all pigeons, except for the vaccinated pigeon. Besides pigeon circovirus, which was detected in 15 of 18 pigeons, all other pathogens were singular findings. Conclusion and clinical relevance In disease outbreaks following fancy pigeon shows in juvenile and adult pigeons diagnostics should include pigeon RVA of genotype G18P[17].

Pigeon Circovirus over Three Decades of Research: Bibliometrics, Scoping Review, and Perspectives

“…Additionally, the mechanism by which PiCV infection contributes to the development of YPDS has also been described in various descriptions of certainties, ranging from “assumed to induce immunosuppression”, “possibly by immunosuppression”, to “causes profound immunosuppression”. See [ 22 , 23 , 33 , 40 , 44 , 48 , 58 , 59 , 66 , 67 , 75 , 77 , 79 , 84 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 93 , 94 , 95 , 100 , 101 , 102 , 104 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 ]. To us, these degrees of variability among these descriptors do not seem to correlate with time.…”

“…These are all also while other records explicitly state that YPDS is a consequence of PiCV infection and subsequent immunosuppression, or categorically require specific conditions for YPDS diagnosis, such as the observation of both clinical symptoms and PiCV-specific histological lesions, presence of viral particles, and a demonstration of the presence of a large amount of viral DNA. See [ 22 , 23 , 33 , 40 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 67 , 77 , 79 , 80 , 90 , 93 , 96 , 100 , 105 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 113 , 117 ].…”

“…Most recently, experimental infection with the newly discovered and isolated pigeon Rotavirus A belonging to a novel clade also produced clinical manifestations that were also described as YPDS-like [ 117 , 121 ]. Some workers in the field expressed that the discovery of pigeon Rotavirus A and the demonstration of its capacity to cause a disease that is like YPDS seem to depreciate the role of PiCV in the etiology of YPDS [ 58 ].…”

Genome Sequence of Rotavirus A from a Florida Racing Pigeon ( Columba livia domestica )

“…The genus Rotavirus (family Reoviridae ) includes nine species, namely, rotaviruses A to D and F to J ( 2 , 3 ). Pigeons infected with rotavirus A (RVA) have been reported in the United States (California), Australia, Denmark, Belgium, Hungary, and Germany ( 4 – 9 ). The RVA genome is composed of 11 segments of double-stranded RNA, which encode six structural proteins (VP1 to VP4, VP6, and VP7) and six nonstructural proteins (NSP1 to NSP6) ( 10 , 11 ).…”

First detection and molecular characterisation of a pigeon aviadenovirus A and pigeon circovirus co‐infection associated with Young Pigeon Disease Syndrome (YPDS) in Turkish pigeons (Columba livia domestica)

“…A multifactorial infection involves other crucial influencers like stressful conditions and other opportunistic pathogens, especially Escherichia (E.) coli (Raue et al., 2005 ). Flock morbidity and mortality for YPDS occur in juvenile pigeons only with up to 20 %; a rate considered lower when compared to other fatal infections in young and adult domestic pigeons like rotavirus A (RVA)‐associated disease, in which flock morbidity is usually high and can reach up 100% (Schmidt et al., 2021 ).…”