Young Pigeon Disease Syndrome (YPDS) in Turkish Pigeons (Columba livia
domestica) stemming from coinfection with Pigeon aviadenovirus A and
Pigeon circovirus: The first isolation and molecular characterization
Abstract
Pigeon aviadenovirus A and Pigeon circovirus are both viruses that can
cause disease in pigeons. This study reports the identification of a
natural co-infection of Pigeon aviadenovirus A and Pigeon circovirus in
a breeding pigeon flock in central Anatolia, Turkey. Both viruses were
isolated from pooled internal organs of pigeons using primary chicken
embryo kidney cell cultures (CEKC) and specific pathogen free (SPF)
embryonated chicken eggs. Both viruses were identified by PCR
amplification followed by Sanger sequencing, while histopathological
examination showed degenerated hepatocytes with basophilic intranuclear
viral inclusions. The viruses have similar transmission characteristics
and common clinical manifestations, but it is possible that coinfection
may exacerabate disease. This is the first report of its kind in Turkey
and is important for the protection against disease in pigeons.