MATRIX PROTEIN GENE SEQUENCE ANALYSIS OF AVIAN PARAMYXOVIRUS 1 ISOLATES OBTAINED FROM PIGEONS

FLAVIA ZANETTI; MARIANELA RODRÍGUEZ; JOYCE BENNET; MELISSA SCOTT; DANIEL J. KING; ILARIA CAPUA; ELISA CARRILLO; BRUCE S. SEAL; ANALÍA BERINSTEIN

VIRUS GENES

Año: 2003 vol. 29 p. 199 - 206

0920-8569

The matrix protein gene was cloned and sequenced for several recent isolates of avian paramyxovirus type 1 (APMV-1). Specifically, isolates from pigeons and doves, members of the Columbidae family were examined. APMV-1 is the causative agent of Newcastle disease and the virus is associated with disease among a diverse number of avian species. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates from pigeons have also been classified as pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 (PPMV-1). Matrix protein gene sequences for PPMV-1 isolates clustered together as a group relative to isolates from other species phylogenetically. However, there were also isolates from pigeons or doves that grouped with APMV-1 isolates from other species. This indicates that PPMV-1 may be circulating among Columbidae members as a distinct lineage, but that these avian species may also harbor other NDV strains as well. Of particular interest was a dove isolate from Europe that had an aberrant fusion protein cleavage site and was an outlying member phylogenetically between the two major groups of APMV-1 isolates.