Schmidt Volker, Kümpel Michael, Cramer Kerstin, Sieg Michael, Harzer Maxi, Rückner Antje, Heenemann Kristin
Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University.
Institute of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University.
Tierarztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere. 2021 Feb;49(1):22-27. doi: 10.1055/a-1339-0366. Epub 2021 Feb 15.
Pigeon rotavirus A (RVA) isolates of genotype G18P[17] are causing disease outbreaks and fatalities in pigeon lofts in Australia, Germany, Belgium, Denmark and USA since 2016. Most disease outbreaks have been reported from juvenile pigeons ( forma domestica). However, reports on RVA-associated disease outbreaks in fancy pigeons in connection with fancy pigeon shows in Germany are rare.
Overall 18 pigeons (16 fancy pigeons and one racing pigeon from 9 pigeon fanciers, as well as one feral pigeon from a rescue center) were sent in for routine diagnostic necropsy including histopathologic, parasitologic and microbiologic examinations. Molecular biologic examinations for detection of RVA, circovirus, Usutu virus, West Nile virus and were also carried out on all pigeons. An accompanying questionnaire filled in by the senders was used to generate basic information on the affected pigeon lofts.
Disease outbreaks in juvenile and adult pigeons were reported 7-14 days after fancy pigeon shows. One fancier who had previously vaccinated his pigeons with an autogenous pigeon RVA vaccine, noted no morbidity and mortality among his pigeons and thus sent in a healthy pigeon for diagnostic purposes. Reported clinical signs in the other pigeons were regurgitation, green slimy diarrhea, anorexia, apathy and death after 24 hours. Hepatic necrosis and detection of pigeon RVA isolates of genotype G18P[17] confirmed disease outbreaks caused by pigeon RVA in all pigeons, except for the vaccinated pigeon. Besides pigeon circovirus, which was detected in 15 of 18 pigeons, all other pathogens were singular findings.
In disease outbreaks following fancy pigeon shows in juvenile and adult pigeons diagnostics should include pigeon RVA of genotype G18P[17].
自2016年以来，基因型为G18P[17]的鸽A型轮状病毒（RVA）毒株在澳大利亚、德国、比利时、丹麦和美国的鸽舍中引发疾病暴发和死亡。大多数疾病暴发报告来自幼鸽（家鸽品种）。然而，关于德国观赏鸽展览相关的观赏鸽中RVA相关疾病暴发的报告很少。
总共18只鸽子（来自9位鸽友的16只观赏鸽和1只赛鸽，以及来自一个救助中心的1只野鸽）被送去进行常规诊断性尸检，包括组织病理学、寄生虫学和微生物学检查。还对所有鸽子进行了检测RVA、圆环病毒、乌苏图病毒、西尼罗河病毒等的分子生物学检查。发送者填写的一份随附问卷用于生成有关受影响鸽舍的基本信息。
在观赏鸽展览后7 - 14天报告了幼鸽和成年鸽的疾病暴发。一位之前用自制鸽RVA疫苗给鸽子接种过的鸽友注意到他的鸽子没有发病和死亡，因此送了一只健康鸽子用于诊断目的。其他鸽子报告的临床症状有反流、绿色黏液性腹泻、厌食、冷漠以及24小时后死亡。肝坏死以及基因型为G18P[17]的鸽RVA毒株检测证实，除了接种过疫苗的鸽子外，所有鸽子的疾病暴发均由鸽RVA引起。除了在18只鸽子中的15只检测到鸽圆环病毒外，所有其他病原体均为个别发现。
在观赏鸽展览后的幼鸽和成年鸽疾病暴发中，诊断应包括基因型为G18P[17]的鸽RVA。
