Isolation and characterization of a coronavirus from pigeons with pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and partially characterize a coronaviruslike virus isolated from naturally infected pigeons.


METHODS
50 specific pathogen-free (SPF) embryonated chicken eggs, 30 White Leghorn SPF chickens, and 12 clinically normal pigeons.


METHODS
Pancreatic tissue specimens from sick pigeons were inoculated into SPF embryonated chicken eggs for viral isolation and investigation of morphologic and hemagglutinating properties of the isolate, called PSH050513. Furthermore, virulence studies in SPF chickens and experimental pigeons were performed. The spike (S) glycoprotein gene of PSH050513 was further sequenced and analyzed.


RESULTS
PSH050513 was isolated and identified from the experimentally infected pigeons by a routine method, which was in accordance with Koch's postulates. The complete S protein (1,167 amino acids) was compared with published S protein sequences of other avian and mammalian coronaviruses. A high degree of sequence identity (79.3% to 99.6%) was observed between the S protein sequence of PSH050513 and published sequences of avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV); only limited identity (< 37.8%) was observed with turkey coronavirus and mammalian coronaviruses. Furthermore, when the virus was inoculated into SPF chickens, pancreatitis developed.


CONCLUSIONS
PSH050513 has been tentatively identified as a novel member of group 3 coronaviruses that have close genetic relationships with IBV strains.
Qian
Dong H
DH
School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 2678 Qixin Rd, Shanghai 201101, P. R. China.
Zhu
Guo J
GJ
Wu
Li Z
LZ
Hua
Guo X
GX
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D010856:Columbidae; D017934:Coronavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000662:veterinary; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014774:Virulence
D012367:RNA, Viral