title: PREVALENCE OF COLUMBID HERPESVIRUS INFECTION IN FERAL PIGEONS FROM NEW SOUTH WALES AND VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, WITH SPILLOVER INTO A WILD POWERFUL OWL (NINOX STRUENA).
abstract: Columbid herpesvirus-1 (CoHV-1) is widespread in feral pigeons in North America and Europe. We used a PCR assay to detect CoHV-1 DNA in oral and cloacal tissues and oral swabs from naturally infected pigeons. Fifty-three feral pigeons from five flocks in Australia (n=3 from south-central Victoria and n=2 from Sydney) were examined for CoHV-1 DNA. We detected CoHV-1 DNA in oral mucosa and cloacal mucosa, with higher concentrations in the oral mucosa. The sensitivity of testing oral swabs was the same as testing the tissue, indicating that testing of oral swabs from live birds is an effective means of screening flocks for CoHV-1 infection. Infection was found in all five of the flocks examined and the prevalence of infection ranged from 70% to100%. Most positive birds could be detected with a single-amplification PCR, but a nested amplification was required to detect others. Oral swabs from Australian native doves and pigeons (n=18) and the introduced Collared Dove (Streptopelia chinensis; n=2) were also tested by the nested PCR and all were negative for CoHV-1 DNA. We describe a fatal infection of CoHV-1 in a wild Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) that was observed feeding on feral pigeons. This is the first known case of CoHV-1 causing death in a wild bird of prey in Australia. Our data suggest that CoHV-1 is widespread in feral pigeon flocks in Australia but we did not find it in native doves and pigeons. Spillover into native avian predator species may be occurring.
authors.affiliation: 1  Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, 415 Werombi Road, Camden, New South Wales 2570, Australia.
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Phalen
authors.affiliation: 1  Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, 415 Werombi Road, Camden, New South Wales 2570, Australia.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarado
authors.affiliation: 2   Wildlife Health Australia, PO Box 20, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grillo
authors.affiliation: 3   Australian Wildlife Health Centre Healesville Sanctuary, Badger Creek Road, PO Box 248, Healesville, Victoria 3777, Australia.
authors.forename: Phillipa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.affiliation: 4   Gribbles Veterinary Pathology, 1868 Dandenong Road, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dobson
authors.affiliation: 3   Australian Wildlife Health Centre Healesville Sanctuary, Badger Creek Road, PO Box 248, Healesville, Victoria 3777, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Holz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D010856:Columbidae / Q000821:virology*; D005060:Europe; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Australia; Columba livia; Ninox strenua; Powerful Owl; Rock Dove; columbid herpesvirus-1; pigeon; polymerase chain reaction