Paramyxovirus infection in pigeons [electronic resource].

Includes references.

This study investigated 69 pigeon flocks for the role of Paramyxovirus (PMV) in serious problem of nervous signs facing both loft and individual raising pigeons in Upper Egypt resulting in severe economic losses. The morbidity and mortality rates in the infected pigeons were 20-94% and 10-90% respectively. No pathognomonic lesions were noticed in infected pigeons far from congestion of parenchymatous organs and enteritis. Forty-one strains of PMV could be isolated (59.4%) from 69 examined flocks. Six isolates were subjected for further characterization by SDS-P AGE and western blot analysis. Common polypeptide pattern was clear among the selected strains in SDS-P AGE but two isolates of them differed partially from the others and ND vaccinal strains, suggesting their relatedness to pigeon PMV. The intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) of the selected strains characterized 5 of them as mesogenic strains and one as velogenic strain. Serological survey of 63 serum samples displayed 35 (55.6%) possess haemagglutination inhibiting (HI) antibodies with HI titers 24_29. All the selected and ND vaccinal strains expressed a very major and highly reactive immunogenic epitope at 53 Kda, moreover there were close immunogenic relationship among pigeon PMV and ND vaccinal strains, the matter which may answer the question why we use ND vaccines for controlling PMV infection in pigeon.

Summary in Arabic.