Veterinary Research Forum
Vet Res Forum

Sequencing of pigeon circovirus and the first report of identification of beak and feather disease virus in clinical specimens of domestic pigeons

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Hadi Shabani 1
Forough Talazade 1
Gholam Abbas Kaydani 2
Masoud Reza Seyfi 3

1 Department of Livestock, Poultry and Aquatic Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

3 Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30466/vrf.2023.2002023.3879
Abstract
An internationally recognized syndrome that leads to deaths among domestic and ornamental pigeons, particularly after racing, is young pigeon disease syndrome (YPDS). Pigeon circovirus (PiCV) is regarded as one of the potential factors contributing to the occurrence of YPDS. This survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of PiCV infection and molecularly characterize the PiCV in pigeons suspected of YPDS. Eighty fecal samples were collected from 80 diseased pigeons (exhibiting symptoms such as lethargy, weight loss, crop stasis, vomiting and diarrhea) from 20 lofts in different areas of Ahvaz, Iran. Also, 20 fecal samples were obtained from 20 clinically healthy pigeons. The nested broad spectrum polymerase chain reaction test was done to identify the circovirus, using primers targeting part of the replication-associated protein gene with 350 bp, and several positive samples were sequenced. This study showed that PiCV was detected in 86 out of the 100 samples (86.00%). Two types of circoviruses were determined in the samples. One type of the detected circoviruses was PiCV which based on phylogenetic analysis had high genetic similarity with A, B, G and H genotypes of PiCV. The other type of detected circoviruses was closely related to beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) which causes one of the most significant viral diseases in psittacine birds. This is the first report of BFDV identification in pigeons.

Keywords

Circovirus
Columba livia domestica
Psittacine beak and feather disease
Phylogenetic analysis
Young pigeon disease syndrome

Subjects

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Veterinary Research Forum
Volume 15, Issue 3
March 2024
Pages 151-158

  • Receive Date 10 May 2023
  • Revise Date 23 June 2023
  • Accept Date 26 July 2023

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