title: Characterization of the first columbid herpesvirus 1 isolate from a hybrid meat-type pigeon flock in China.
abstract: Infections of pigeons with herpesviruses have been described in several species of domestic and wild birds. In July 2012, increased mortality was observed in a hybrid meat-type pigeon flock in Beijing, China. Diagnostic tests led to the isolation of a virus designated columbid herpesvirus 1 BJ strain (CoHV-1BJ). Sequence analysis of the viral DNA polymerase catalytic subunit gene revealed a single open reading frame of 3753 nt encoding 1250 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the CoHV-1BJ is closely related to the members of the genus Mardivirus within the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae. An experimental infection demonstrated that CoHV-1BJ is pathogenic to young pigeons, resulting in systemic infection with scattered focal necrosis in the liver and spleen. The results provide an initial assessment of herpesvirus infection in domestic pigeons in China.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Lijiao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhanhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xueying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Haigang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Meixia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiuhuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Runian
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Jingliang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D002681:China; D010856:Columbidae / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D025922:Mardivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase