Determination of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase subtypes of avian influenza A viruses in urban pigeons by a new nested RT-PCR.

The prevalence of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) together with determination of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) subtypes were studied in urban pigeons using a new nested RT-PCR. Both oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs from birds were collected. Altogether, screening of all samples revealed that 12% of oropharyngeal and 20% of cloacal samples were positive for AIVs.

Prevalence of avian influenza viruses, Borrelia garinii, Mycobacterium avium, and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in waterfowl and terrestrial birds in Slovakia, 2006.

The prevalence of Borrelia, Mycobacteria and avian influenza virus (AIV) infections, together with the distribution of different AIV subtypes, was studied in migratory waterfowl and terrestrial birds trapped in three localities in Slovakia during 2006. Samples obtained from waterfowl captured in the Senianske Ponds area of Eastern Slovakia showed the highest diversity of AIV isolates. A total of 13 different subtypes were detected in 19 samples from this location (H1N2, H2N2, H3N2, H6N6, H7N6, H9N2, H9N5, H9N6, H10N5, H10N6, H12N6, H13N6, and H16N6).

Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Chlamydophila psittaci in throat and cloacal swabs from birds migrating through Slovakia.

We have screened 91 migratory birds representing 32 species during the autumn of 2003 for the presence of the zoonotic pathogens Borrelia and Chlamydophila. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), B. burgdorferi sensu stricto was detected in cloacal swabs and, in two causes, also in throat swabs in 8 individuals (8.