Avian paramyxovirus type 1 infections in racing pigeons in California. I. Clinical signs, pathology, and serology.
An outbreak of diarrhea and neurological disease in California racing pigeons caused by avian paramyxovirus type 1 (PMV-1) is documented. Predominant clinical signs were polydipsia, ataxia, poor balance, torticollis, head tremors, inability to fly, and diarrhea that was unresponsive to therapy. Gross pathologic findings were often unremarkable or non-specific. The predominant histologic lesions were interstitial nephritis, chronic tubular necrosis, lymphoplasmacytic infiltration within the kidney, liver, and pancreas, and focal non-suppurative encephalitis. Pigeons from 20 submissions demonstrated characteristic clinical signs of PMV-1 infection. Pigeons from 17 submissions exhibited typical histopathology. Serologic evidence of PMV-1 infection was present in pigeons from 13 submissions, and PMV-1 was isolated from pigeons received in six submissions. None of these pigeons had been vaccinated against PMV-1.
Barton
J T
JT
School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, San Bernardino 92412.
Bickford
A A
AA
Cooper
G L
GL
Charlton
B R
BR
Cardona
C J
CJ
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001681:Biological Assay; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology; D002642:Chick Embryo; D010856:Columbidae; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D010252:Paramyxoviridae / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012621:Seasons; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
D000914:Antibodies, Viral