Effect of a commercial paratyphus vaccine on the development of pigeon circovirus infection in young pigeons (Columba livia domestica).

Infection with pigeon circovirus (PiCV) has been associated with young pigeon disease syndrome (YPDS), which is considered to be a multifactorial disease. The factors that determine whether birds succumb to clinical disease are not known. To evaluate the potential effect of vaccination with a commercial paratyphus vaccine on the progression of PiCV infection in young pigeons, forty 6-week-old pigeons naturally infected with PiCV were randomly assigned to two equal groups.

Quantification of pigeon circovirus in serum, blood, semen and different tissues of naturally infected pigeons using a real-time polymerase chain reaction.

The development of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on SYBR Green chemistry is described for the quantification of pigeon circovirus (PiCV) DNA in various samples. Plasmid containing a fragment of the PiCV genome was used to create a standard curve and to estimate the viral DNA copies in analysed samples. Both primers were designed in highly conserved regions to avoid false negatives, and amplified a 139-base-pair amplicon.

Sequence comparison of pigeon circoviruses.

The genome sequences of eight pigeon circoviruses (PiCV) were determined and compared with four previously published sequences. The viruses compared were from the USA, five European countries, China and Australia and included PiCVs from racing, feral, ornamental and meat pigeons and a Senegal dove (Streptopelia senegalensis). The 12 PiCV genomes, ranging from 2032 to 2040 nucleotides in length, displayed similar organizations.

Detection of pigeon circovirus in cloacal swabs: implications for diagnosis, epidemiology and control.

Pigeon circovirus (picv) was detected in cloacal swab samples by means of a newly-developed, sensitive pcr. An initial investigation of 17 Belgian racing pigeons aged up to eight months showed that rates of detection of 88 per cent and above were achieved using samples of cloacal swab, blood and bursa of Fabricius. The sampling of 15 caged pigeons six times when they were from three to 31 weeks of age indicated that picv infections were more readily detected in cloacal swabs than in blood, and that the virus could be detected in cloacal swabs for longer periods after infection than in blood.

Observations on detection, excretion and transmission of pigeon circovirus in adult, young and embryonic pigeons.

Infections with pigeon circovirus (PiCV) occur in young racing pigeons and pigeons raised for meat production and have been reported worldwide, but relatively little is known about the disease induced by PiCV infection. The aim of this study was to investigate how PiCV is transmitted. Using a sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, the presence of PiCV was investigated in a wide range of samples from adult pigeons, embryos, breeders and young birds, which were derived from a racing loft that had a clinical history of "young pigeon sickness" and in which PiCV had been previously been diagnosed.