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Title: Identification of avian paramyxovirus serotype-1 in wild birds in the USA

Author
item PEDERSEN, KERRI - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS), National Wildlife Center
item MARKS, DAVID - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS), National Wildlife Center
item Afonso, Claudio
item STOPAK, SCOTT - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS), National Wildlife Center
item Williams Coplin, Tina
item DIMITROV, KIRIL - National Diagnostic And Research Veterinary Medicine Institute
item Miller, Patti
item DELIBERTO, THOMAS - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS), National Wildlife Center

Submitted to: Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2016
Publication Date: 5/31/2016
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62697
Citation: Pedersen, K., Marks, D.R., Afonso, C.L., Stopak, S.R., Williams Coplin, T.D., Dimitrov, K.M., Miller, P.J., Deliberto, T.J. 2016. Identification of avian paramyxovirus serotype-1 in wild birds in the USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 52(3). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7589/2015-10-278.

Interpretive Summary: While wild birds that have been found dead or are euthanized because they are sick may be examined for disease agents, it is rare that samples from healthy birds are analyzed. Not only is it expensive to complete these large experiments, but logistically it is difficult. First, avian experts who have the permits to capture wild birds that are protected by laws need to work in different environments (forests, fields, lakes) to sample diverse species, and then a different set of experts from specialized laboratories are needed to perform virus isolations. Samples from just under 100 species of birds from 44 states of the United States were evaluated for evidence of avian viral infections: avian influenza virus, avian paramyxovirus serotype-1, West Nile virus, St. Louis equine encephalitis virus, and Turlock virus. Birds from at least 11 of the 44 states sampled showed evidence of exposure. In addition, of the 96 bird species, 55 showed evidence of being infected for at least one of these pathogens. Of these 55, 14 species had at least five birds positive for one of the pathogens. The birds in the Pacific flyway demonstrated the highest levels of exposure to these avian viral diseases.

Technical Abstract: In the US, sampling for avian paramyxovirus serotype-1 (APMV-1) is generally conducted when morbidity or mortality events occur involving certain families of wild birds known to be affected by the virus, such as cormorants (Family Phalacrocoracidae), pigeons, doves (Family Columbidae), or pelicans (Family Pelecanidae). To quantify the prevalence of APMV-1 in apparently healthy wild birds and to determine its geographic distribution, we collected swab and serum samples from .3,500 wild birds, representing eight orders from 1 January 2013 to 30 September 2013. Antibody prevalence was highest in wild birds of Order Suliformes (44.9%), followed by Pelecaniformes (24.4%), Anseriformes (22.7%), and Columbiformes (11.7%), with a relatively high occurrence of virulent viruses in Columbiformes (100% of virulent viruses isolated). As expected, viral shedding was comparatively much lower, and positives were only identified in Orders Accipitriformes (1.4%), Columbiformes (1.0%), Anseriformes (0.8%), and Charadriiformes (0.4%). We also demonstrate circulating virulent APMV-1 viruses of genotype VI in apparently healthy Rock Pigeons (Columba livia) from March through September in three states.