Avian pox infection in different wild birds in India

Abstract

Amplicons of fpv167 and fpv140, of 578 and 1,800 bp, respectively, characteristic of the avipox viral genes, were amplified by PCR using DNA from viruses isolated from eight Indian wild birds. BLAST and phylogenetic analysis of the sequences of the fpv167 and fpv140 amplicons indicated that Fowlpox virus (FWPV) was the nearest phylogenetic neighbour to the viral isolates, from two Indian peacocks (Pavo cristatus), two golden pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus), one silver pheasant (Lopahura nycthemera) and one sparrow (Passer domesticus). However, the two isolates from the Indian little brown dove (Stigmatopelia senegalensis) and the common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) formed a separate cluster with turkeypox and pigeonpox virus (PGPV) isolates when the phylogenetic tree was constructed using the sequence of fpv167. When the phylogenetic analysis was done using the fpv140 gene sequence both isolates formed a cluster with isolates of PGPV. Thus, the results support that fpv140 gene along with the fpv167 gene should be used for phylogenetic analyses of avipoxviruses for better discrimination of the viruses. Additionally, avian poxvirus isolated from wild birds of India were identical to those reported in Indian domestic birds, and phylogenetically related to avian poxviruses reported from different parts of the world. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular characterization of avian poxviruses infecting different wild birds in India. The study shows that FWPV and PGPV cause infection in wild birds irrespective of the species of birds indicating that these viruses are not species specific. Thus these viruses, which are not host specific have the ability to cause infection in game birds, endangered birds and domestic birds and therefore could spread easily.

The complete genome sequences of poxviruses isolated from a penguin and a pigeon in South Africa and comparison to other sequenced avipoxviruses

“…Poxviruses isolated from the African, Magellanic and Humboldt penguins group in Clades A2, A3 (FWPV-like) and B1 (CNPV-like) respectively [ 6 , 8 ]. Columbiformes have been shown to be susceptible to viruses from clade A (Fowlpox-like) [ 3 , 5 , 21 , 22 ] and clade B (Canarypox-like) [ 3 , 4 , 23 ].…”

The emergence of subclades A1 and A3 avipoxviruses in India

“…We observed that the hosts of the order Galliformes primarily harboured the A1 subclade, which is similar to the findings reported by Gyuranecz et al, and Jarmin et al, (Gyuranecz et al, ; Jarmin et al, ). Although subclade A1 was previously reported in India (Pawar et al, ), the host species were observed to be endangered wild birds sampled from the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. In this study, for the first time, we report the presence of subclade A1 in domesticated and economically important bird species of India.…”

“…Although subclade A1 was previously reported in India (Pawar et al, 2011), the host species were observed to be endangered wild birds sampled from the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. In this study, for the first time, we report the presence of subclade A1 in domesticated and economically important bird species of India.…”

“…This finding indicates that geographically restricted isolates are stabilized over time. Earlier reports on avipoxvirus classified them into three major clades, A, B and C, with subclades A1, A2, A3, B1 and B2 (Pawar et al, ). However, recently, two important clades (D and E), as well as subclades A1‐A7 and B1‐B3, have emerged (Bányai et al, ; Manarolla et al, ; Mapaco et al, , ).…”

Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Avipoxvirus in House Sparrows in Spain

“…Because of some APV strains may be found in several bird species the introduction of domestic birds may be a threat for wild birds, especially in isolated populations. Conversely, wild birds may be an infection source for poultry [5,11,12]. …”