The Veterinary Record Link to Vetlife website
HOME CURRENT ISSUE TABLE OF CONTENTS ARCHIVE SEARCH SUBSCRIPTIONS JOBS FEEDBACK HELP
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Todd, D.
Right arrow Articles by Smyth, J. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Todd, D.
Right arrow Articles by Smyth, J. A.
The Veterinary Record 159:314-317 (2006)
© 2006 British Veterinary Association

Papers and Articles

Detection of pigeon circovirus in cloacal swabs: implications for diagnosis, epidemiology and control

D. Todd, BSc, PhD1, J-P. Duchatel, Ir, MVSc2, J. C. Bustin, BSc2, F. T. Scullion, MVB, PhD, MRCVS3, M. G. Scullion, MVB, MRCVS3, A. N. J. Scott, BSc, PhD4, A. Curry, BSc, PhD1, N. W. Ball, BSc, MSc1 and J. A. Smyth, MVB, PhD, DipECVP, MRCVS1

1 Veterinary Sciences Division, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SD
2 Institute of Veterinary Science, Department of Infections and Parasitic Diseases, Avian and Rabbit Clinic, University of Liège, Bd de Colonster 20/BAT, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
3 Veterinary Services for Birds, 16 Cranlome Road, Ballygawley BT70 2HS
4 Department of Veterinary Sciences, Queen's University of Belfast, Veterinary Sciences Division, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SD

Pigeon circovirus (PICV) was detected in cloacal swab samples by means of a newly-developed, sensitive PCR. An initial investigation of 17 Belgian racing pigeons aged up to eight months showed that rates of detection of 88 per cent and above were achieved using samples of cloacal swab, blood and bursa of Fabricius. The sampling of 15 caged pigeons six times when they were from three to 31 weeks of age indicated that PICV infections were more readily detected in cloacal swabs than in blood, and that the virus could be detected in cloacal swabs for longer periods after infection than in blood. PICV infections were detected in cloacal swabs from 38 of 47 young pigeons aged from two to 31 weeks, from 12 racing lofts, which had clinical signs including diarrhoea and weight loss, regurgitation and respiratory signs. Samples from birds from two infected lofts indicated that PICV could be detected in some birds for at least 27 weeks. Although nine of 14 pigeons aged from 32 to 45 weeks were virus-positive, PICV was detected in only one of 18 adult pigeons that originated from four infected lofts.






HOME CURRENT ISSUE TABLE OF CONTENTS ARCHIVE SEARCH SUBSCRIPTIONS JOBS FEEDBACK HELP
Copyright © 2006 British Veterinary Association