BIOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF A PIGEON PARAMIYXOVIRUS TYPE-1 ISOLATES FOUND IN ARGENTINA

FLAVIA ZANETTI; ROSANA MATTIELLO; CESAR GARBINO; ANALÍA KALOGHLIAN; MARÍA VICTORIA TERRERA; JUAN BOVIEZ; EDUARDO PALMA; ELISA CARRILLO; ANALÍA BERINSTEIN

AVIAN DISEASES

Año: 2001 vol. 45 p. 567 - 571

0005-2086

In this report, we describe the biological and molecular characterization of a paramyxovirus type-1 (PPMV-1) isolate found in wild pigeons in an urban habitat in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Of the nine pigeons captured, three were moribund, and the other six showed diarrhea, ataxia, tremor, torticolis, and wing paralysis. The intracerebral pathogenicity index was 1.29, and the amino acid (aa) sequence at the fusion protein cleavage site was 112GRQ KRF117. These characteristics correspond to a virulent Newcastle disease virus isolate. Nevertheless, it was not possible to reproduce the disease in chickens experimentally although the chickens exhibited seroconversion after inoculation. On the other hand, pigeons inoculated with the isolate became sick. These results provide further evidence about the unusual pathogenicity of PPMV-1 for chickens and show once more the need for more biological determinations in these cases to arrive at a final conclusion.