The racing pigeon (Columba livia domestica) industry in Victoria, Australia, and epidemiology of a novel Group A rotavirus outbreak

Abstract

A novel Group A rotavirus, first identified clinically in racing, feral and fancy pigeons

First experimental proof of Rotavirus A (RVA) genotype G18P[17] inducing the clinical presentation of ‘young pigeon disease syndrome’ (YPDS) in domestic pigeons ( Columba livia )

“…Our results indicate that regaining this condition may take more than 3 weeks after RVAinduced disease, despite supposedly earlier clinical recovery. Mortality was not observed during this study, whereas the proportion of deceased and euthanized birds may range from none to more than 50% following natural infections (Hunnam et al, 2019;McCowan et al, 2018;Rubbenstroth et al, 2019). Infectious or non-infectious factors contributing to the severity of RVA-induced disease in pigeons are not well characterized.…”

“…Typical clinical signs include apathy, anorexia, slimy diarrhoea, vomiting and congested crops, whereas neurologic and respiratory signs or fibrinous lesions are rarely observed. In affected flocks, the disease usually subsides within approximately a week and the mortality may range from none to more than 50% (Gough et al, 1992;Hunnam et al, 2019;McCowan et al, 2018;Rubbenstroth et al, 2019). Factors influencing the outcome of the infection are poorly characterized, but may include strain-dependent virulence factors, genetic differences in the host, age, maternally derived immunity as well as the presence of other infectious or non-infectious factors (Rubbenstroth et al, 2019).…”

“…In domestic pigeons ( Columba livia ), RVA had been sporadically detected in healthy and diseased individuals (Gough, Cox, & Devoy, ; Minamoto, Oki, Tomita, Kinjo, & Suzuki, ; Pauly et al, ). However, its pathogenic potential in this species remained largely unknown until a pigeon‐associated clade of RVA genotype G18P[17] was described recently in association with fatal diseases in Europe and Australia (Hunnam, Sloan, McCowan, Glass, & Walker, ; McCowan et al, ; Rubbenstroth et al, ). Remarkably, these viruses were found to establish systemic infections with high viral loads particularly in the liver.…”

“…However, its pathogenic potential in this species remained largely unknown until a pigeon-associated clade of RVA genotype G18P [17] was described recently in association with fatal diseases in Europe and Australia (Hunnam, Sloan, McCowan, Glass, & Walker, 2019;McCowan et al, 2018;Rubbenstroth et al, 2019). Remarkably, these viruses were found to establish systemic infections with high viral loads particularly in the liver.…”

Pigeon adenovirus and pigeon torque teno virus associated with acute multifocal hepatic necrosis in pigeons in Queensland, Australia

“…The clinical signs and tissue lesions are similar to infection with PiAd-1 and PTTV in this report. The viruses reported to be associated with hepatic lesions are adenoviruses [27], herpesviruses [28,29], circoviruses [30], and rotaviruses [31,32]. Whilst both PiAd-1 and PTTV are known to be associated with hepatic lesions, their role in pathogenicity of disease needs further investigation.…”