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Curland N, Gethöffer F, van Neer A, Ziegler L, Heffels-Redmann U, Lierz M, Baumgärtner W, Wohlsein P, Völker I, Lapp S, Bello A, Pfankuche VM, Braune S, Runge M, Moss A, Rautenschlein S, Jung A, Teske L, Strube C, Schulz J, Bodewes R, Osterhaus ADME, Siebert U. Investigation into diseases in free-ranging ring-necked pheasants ( Phasianus colchicus) in northwestern Germany during population decline with special reference to infectious pathogens. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2018; 64:12. [PMID: 32214944 PMCID: PMC7087779 DOI: 10.1007/s10344-018-1173-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The population of ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) is decreasing all over Germany since the years 2008/2009. Besides impacts of habitat changes caused by current rates of land conversion, climatic influences or predators, a contribution of infectious pathogens needs also to be considered. Infectious and non-infectious diseases in free-living populations of ring-necked pheasants have been scarcely investigated so far. In the present study, carcasses of 258 deceased free-ranging pheasants of different age groups, predominantly adult pheasants, collected over a period of 4 years in the states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine–Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein, were examined pathomorphologically, parasitologically, virologically and bacteriologically, with a focus set on infectious pathogens. A periocular and perinasal dermatitis of unknown origin was present in 62.3% of the pheasants. Additional alterations included protozoal cysts in the skeletal musculature (19.0%), hepatitis (21.7%), enteritis (18.7%), gastritis (12.6%), and pneumonia (11.7%). In single cases, neoplasms (2.6%) and mycobacteriosis (1.7%) occurred. Further findings included identification of coronaviral DNA from trachea or caecal tonsils (16.8%), siadenoviral DNA (7.6%), avian metapneumoviral RNA (6.6%), and infectious bursal disease viral RNA (3.7%). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on herpesvirus, avian influenza virus (AIV), paramyxovirus type 1 (PMV-1), avian encephalomyelitis virus (AEV), and chlamydia were negative. Based on the present results, there is no indication of a specific pathogen as a sole cause for population decline in adult pheasants. However, an infectious disease can still not be completely excluded as it may only affect reproduction effectivity or a certain age group of pheasants (e.g., chicks) which were not presented in the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Curland
- 1Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - F Gethöffer
- 1Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - A van Neer
- 1Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - L Ziegler
- 2Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 91, 35321 Giessen, Germany
| | - U Heffels-Redmann
- 2Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 91, 35321 Giessen, Germany
| | - M Lierz
- 2Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 91, 35321 Giessen, Germany
| | - W Baumgärtner
- 3Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - P Wohlsein
- 3Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - I Völker
- 3Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - S Lapp
- 3Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - A Bello
- 3Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - V M Pfankuche
- 3Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - S Braune
- 4Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES), Food and Veterinary Institute Braunschweig/Hannover, Eintrachtweg 17, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - M Runge
- 4Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES), Food and Veterinary Institute Braunschweig/Hannover, Eintrachtweg 17, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - A Moss
- 5Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES), Food and Veterinary Institute Oldenburg, Philosophenweg 38, 26121 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - S Rautenschlein
- 6Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - A Jung
- 6Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - L Teske
- 6Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - C Strube
- 7Institute for Parasitology, Center for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - J Schulz
- 8Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behaviour, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - R Bodewes
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, P.O. Box 2040, Ee1726, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A D M E Osterhaus
- 10Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - U Siebert
- 1Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
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Teske L, Rubbenstroth D, Meixner M, Liere K, Bartels H, Rautenschlein S. Identification of a novel aviadenovirus, designated pigeon adenovirus 2 in domestic pigeons (Columba livia). Virus Res 2016; 227:15-22. [PMID: 27697452 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2016.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Revised: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The young pigeon disease syndrome (YPDS) affects mainly young pigeons of less than one year of age and leads to crop stasis, vomitus, diarrhea, anorexia and occasionally death. This disease is internationally a major health problem because of its seasonal appearance during competitions such as homing pigeon races or exhibitions of ornamental birds. While the etiology of YPDS is still unclear, adenoviruses are frequently discussed as potential causative agents. Electron microscopy of feces from a YPDS outbreak revealed massive shedding of adenovirus-like particles. Whole genome sequencing of this sample identified a novel adenovirus tentatively named pigeon adenovirus 2 (PiAdV-2). Phylogenetic and comparative genome analysis suggest PiAdV-2 to belong to a new species within the genus Aviadenovirus, for which we propose the name Pigeon aviadenovirus B. The PiAdV-2 genome shares 54.9% nucleotide sequence identity with pigeon adenovirus 1 (PiAdV-1). In a screening of further YPDS-affected flocks two variants of PiAdV-2 (variant A and B) were detected which shared 97.6% nucleotide identity of partial polymerase sequences, but only 79.7% nucleotide identity of partial hexon sequences. The distribution of both PiAdV-2 variants was further investigated in fecal samples collected between 2008 and 2015 from healthy or YPDS-affected racing pigeons of different lofts. Independent of their health status, approximately 20% of young and 13% of adult pigeon flocks harbored PiAdV-2 variants. Birds were free of PiAdV-1 or other aviadenoviruses as determined by PCRs targeting the aviadenovirus polymerase or the PiAdV-1 fiber gene, respectively. In conclusion, there is no indication of a correlation between YPDS outbreaks and the presence of PiAdV-2 or other aviadenoviruses, arguing against an causative role in this disease complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Teske
- Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, D-30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - D Rubbenstroth
- Institute for Virology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder Str. 11, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - M Meixner
- SMB Services in Molecular Biology GmbH, Rudolf-Breitscheid-Str. 70, D-15562 Rüdersdorf, Germany
| | - K Liere
- SMB Services in Molecular Biology GmbH, Rudolf-Breitscheid-Str. 70, D-15562 Rüdersdorf, Germany
| | - H Bartels
- Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, D-30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - S Rautenschlein
- Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, D-30559 Hannover, Germany.
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