Identification of a novel clade of group A rotaviruses in fatally diseased domestic pigeons in Europe.

Rotaviruses are well-known causative agents of enteric disorders in humans and other mammals, but little is known about their virulence and pathogenic role in pigeons and other birds. Starting in summer 2017, a series of outbreaks of an acute disease with high mortalities was reported in domestic pigeons in Germany, Belgium and Denmark. The clinical picture was characterized by diarrhoea, vomiting, hepatic necrosis and sudden fatalities.

Colonization patterns of Enterococcus cecorum in two different broiler production cycles detected with a newly developed quantitative real-time PCR.

Background: Although Enterococcus cecorum (EC) infection is one of the most important bacterial diseases in modern broiler chickens today, many aspects of epidemiology and pathogenesis are still unknown. There is a need for better detection methods for EC than classical cultivation. In the present study, we describe the validation and application of a newly developed quantitative TaqMan real-time PCR (qPCR) assay based on the 16S-rRNA-gene for the detection of EC.

Enterococcus cecorum infection in a racing pigeon.

Until now, Enterococcus cecorum (EC) has been known as a pathogen for broilers, broiler breeders, and Pekin ducks. In the present report, we describe a fatal systemic EC infection in a young racing pigeon (Columba livia forma domestica). EC was isolated from the heart, liver, spleen, and intestine of the bird in pure culture.

Epidemiological investigations on the role of clinically healthy racing pigeons as a reservoir for avian paramyxovirus-1 and avian influenza virus.

Clinically healthy racing pigeons may harbour notifiable pathogens and serve as an unnoticed reservoir. Thus, 3480 healthy racing pigeons from 172 different lofts were monitored over a period of 2 years for the presence of avian influenza virus (AIV) and avian paramyxovirus-1 (APMV-1). Pharyngeal and cloacal swabs as well as blood samples were collected from juvenile and adult pigeons.

Epidemiological investigations on the possible risk of distribution of zoonotic bacteria through apparently healthy homing pigeons.

Clinically healthy homing pigeons may serve as an unnoticed reservoir for zoonotic bacteria. Hence, healthy pigeons from 172 different racing pigeon lofts were examined for Salmonella serovars, Campylobacter spp. and Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) psittaci.

Isolation and characterization of atypical Riemerella columbina strains from pigeons and their differentiation from Riemerella anatipestifer.

Riemerella columbina (RC) and Riemerella anatipestifer (RA) belong to the genus Riemerella within the family Flavobacteriaceae. While RA is a well-described pathogen of waterfowl and other avian species, only little is known about RC. Previous work reporting the isolation of RC from internal organs of clinically diseased pigeons suggested a potential pathogenic role in this avian species.