Infectivity and pathobiology of H7N1 and H5N8 high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses for pigeons (Columba livia var. domestica).

Infectivity and pathobiology of H7N1 and H5N8 high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses for pigeons (Columba livia var. domestica). Avian Pathol. 2020 Oct 09;:1-27 Authors: Sánchez-González R, Ramis A, Nofrarías M, Wali N, Valle R, Pérez M, Perlas A, Majó N Abstract Avian influenza (AI) is one of the most important viral diseases in poultry, wildlife and humans. Available data indicates that pigeons play a minimum role in the epidemiology of AI. However, a degree of variation exists in the susceptibility of pigeons to highly pathogenic AI viruses (HPAIVs), especially since the emergence of the goose/Guangdong H5 lineage. Here, the pathogenesis of H5N8 HPAIV in comparison with a H7N1 HPAIV and the role of pigeons in the epidemiology of these viruses were evaluated. Local and urban pigeons (Columba livia var. domestica) were intranasally inoculated with 105 ELD50 of A/goose/Spain/IA17CR02699/2017 (H5N8) or A/Chicken/Italy/5093/1999 (H7N1) and monitored during 14 days. Several pigeons inoculated with H5N8 or H7N1 seroconverted. However, clinical signs, mortality, microscopic lesions and viral antigen were only detected in a local pigeon inoculated with H5N8 HPAIV. This pigeon presented prostration and neurological signs that correlated with the presence of large areas of necrosis and widespread AIV antigen in central nervous system, indicating that the fatal outcome was associated with neurological dysfunction. Viral RNA in swabs ...
Source: Avian Pathology - Category: Pathology Authors: Tags: Avian Pathol Source Type: research