AR-News: pigeons and bird flu

[Ronda Roaring]

Date: 15 Apr 2004
From: Derek Spielman [edited]

[According to the references below,] psittacines can carry and be 
affected by avian influenza. [However,] this is rare, the disease is 
mild, shedding is limited, and so far isolates from psittacines have 
been non-pathogenic in poultry and mice. Pigeons resist infection 
with avian influenza. Thus, there is no justification for the 
culling of psittacines or pigeons in the face of an outbreak in which 
the virus is virulent and shed in massive numbers by affected 
poultry.

Mase M, Imada T, Sanada Y, Etoh M, Sanada N, Tsukamoto K, Kawaoka Y, 
Yamaguchi S. Imported parakeets harbor H9N2 influenza A viruses that 
are genetically closely related to those transmitted to humans in 
Hong Kong.

Perkins LE, Swayne DE. Varied pathogenicity of a Hong Kong-origin 
H5N1 avian influenza virus in four passerine species and budgerigars. 
Vet Pathol. 2003 Jan;40(1):14-24.

Perkins LE, Swayne DE. Comparative susceptibility of selected avian 
and mammalian species to a Hong Kong-origin H5N1 high-pathogenicity 
avian influenza virus. Avian Dis. 2003;47(3 Suppl):956-67.

- --
Derek Spielman
Chief Veterinarian
Ocean Park
Hong Kong


[This moderator checked with USDA prior to posting the comment. 
Indeed, pigeons can acquire Newcastle disease, and the USDA reported 
that apparently 6 percent of such birds did test positive for AI but 
had no clinical disease. Furthermore, I could not find any evidence 
of transmission to other birds. I believe the documentation and logic 
supplied in the last response in this posting may be the appropriate 
approach to this problem.

This moderator appreciates the assistance of our readers who may be 
more closely in touch with the latest research. Thanks to all who 
have written. - Mod.TG]

[see also:
Avian influenza, H7, poultry - Canada (BC)(17) 20040414.1014
Avian influenza, H7, poultry - Canada (BC)(16) 20040412.0994
Avian influenza, H7, poultry - Canada (BC)(15): OIE 20040410.0974
Avian influenza A (H7), human - Canada (BC) (04) 20040407.0948
Avian influenza, H7, poultry - Canada (BC) (14) 20040407.0946
Avian influenza A (H7) virus, human - Canada (BC) (03) 20040406.0935
Avian influenza, H7, poultry - Canada (BC)(13) 20040404.0925
Avian influenza A (H7N3) virus, human - Canada (BC) (02) 20040402.0908
Avian influenza, H7, poultry - Canada (BC)(12) 20040401.0893
Avian influenza, H7, poultry - Canada (BC) (11) 20040330.0870
Avian influenza, H7, poultry - Canada (BC)(10) 20040327.0843
Avian influenza A (H7N3) virus, human - Canada (BC) 20040327.0842
Avian influenza, H7, poultry - Canada (BC)(09) 20040324.0821
Avian influenza, H7, poultry - Canada (BC)(08) 20040323.0814
Avian influenza, H7, poultry - Canada (BC)(07): correction 20040315.0721
Avian influenza, H7, poultry - Canada (BC) (06) 20040313.0704
Avian influenza, H7, poultry - Canada (BC) (05): OIE 20040310.0675
Avian influenza, H7, poultry - Canada (BC) (04): RFI 20040310.0672
Avian influenza H7, poultry - Canada(BC)(03):OIE 20040222.0562
Avian influenza, H7 serotype, poultry - Canada(BC)(02) 20040221.0557
Avian influenza, H7 serotype, poultry - Canada (BC) 20040220.0548]
..................tg/pg/jw

		
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