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The first confirmed cases of pigeon rotavirus A (RVA) infection in domestic pigeons (Columba livia) in Poland

Krzysztof Adamczyk
Krzysztof Adamczyk
, 
Dennis Rubbenstroth
Dennis Rubbenstroth
, 
Aleksandra Ledwoń
Aleksandra Ledwoń
, 
Rafał Sapierzyński
Rafał Sapierzyński
 and 
Piotr Szeleszczuk
Piotr Szeleszczuk
   | Mar 23, 2024
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Published Online: Mar 23, 2024
Page range: 55 - 61
Received: Aug 11, 2023
Accepted: Jan 26, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2024-0006
Keywords
© 2024 Krzysztof Adamczyk et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Fig. 1.

Detection of rotavirus A (RVA) VP6 RNA in pigeon liver samples by RT-qPCR. Calibrated cycle of quantification (Cq) values of individual liver samples from racing (n = 51) and fancy pigeons (n = 66). Calibrated Cq values below 30 (indicated by the dotted line) indicate an acute or recent RVA infection (positive), whereas calibrated Cq values above 30 (indicated by the grey box) possibly indicate remnants of a past infection (A). Numbers of tested and RVA-positive samples from 2011-2020 (B). Numbers of RVA-positive samples from racing (n = 12) and fancy pigeons (n = 12) by month of sampling (C)
Detection of rotavirus A (RVA) VP6 RNA in pigeon liver samples by RT-qPCR. Calibrated cycle of quantification (Cq) values of individual liver samples from racing (n = 51) and fancy pigeons (n = 66). Calibrated Cq values below 30 (indicated by the dotted line) indicate an acute or recent RVA infection (positive), whereas calibrated Cq values above 30 (indicated by the grey box) possibly indicate remnants of a past infection (A). Numbers of tested and RVA-positive samples from 2011-2020 (B). Numbers of RVA-positive samples from racing (n = 12) and fancy pigeons (n = 12) by month of sampling (C)

Fig. 2.

Macroscopic changes in the livers and hearts of four rotavirus A-positive pigeons (A1, A2, B and I) originating from three outbreaks (A in the Łódź, B in the Silesia and I in the Mazovia voivodeships). Liver congestion (A1 and B); liver enlargement and mottling and myocardial necrosis (A2 and I)
Macroscopic changes in the livers and hearts of four rotavirus A-positive pigeons (A1, A2, B and I) originating from three outbreaks (A in the Łódź, B in the Silesia and I in the Mazovia voivodeships). Liver congestion (A1 and B); liver enlargement and mottling and myocardial necrosis (A2 and I)

Fig. 3.

Macroscopic changes in the kidneys from three selected rotavirus A-positive pigeons (A1, A2 and B) originating from three outbreaks (A in the Łódź, B in the Silesia and I in the Mazovia voivodeships). Kidney oedema (A1, A2 and B); simultaneous pallor (B)
Macroscopic changes in the kidneys from three selected rotavirus A-positive pigeons (A1, A2 and B) originating from three outbreaks (A in the Łódź, B in the Silesia and I in the Mazovia voivodeships). Kidney oedema (A1, A2 and B); simultaneous pallor (B)

Fig. 4.

Macroscopic changes in the spleens of three selected rotavirus A-positive pigeons (A1, B, and I) from three outbreaks (A in the Łódź, B in the Silesia and I in the Mazovia voivodeships). Spleens appearing pale and slightly to moderately enlarged (A1, B and I)
Macroscopic changes in the spleens of three selected rotavirus A-positive pigeons (A1, B, and I) from three outbreaks (A in the Łódź, B in the Silesia and I in the Mazovia voivodeships). Spleens appearing pale and slightly to moderately enlarged (A1, B and I)

Fig. 5.

Microscopic lesions stained with haematoxylin and eosin in the livers of two selected rotavirus A-infected pigeons (A and B) from two outbreaks (A in the Łódź and B in the Silesia voivodeships). Severe congestion, and focal, mainly perivascular mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate (white arrows), consisting of lymphocytes, plasma cells and histiocytes, degenerative and necrotic changes of hepatocytes (black arrows) – magnification 100× (A); severe congestion, haemorrhaging, massive haemorrhagic necrosis of hepatic parenchyma, and perivascular inflammatory infiltrate (white arrows) – magnification 40× (Ba); severe congestion, haemorrhaging and perivascular mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate (white arrows), consisting of lymphocytes, plasma cells and histiocytes – magnification 200× (Bb)
Microscopic lesions stained with haematoxylin and eosin in the livers of two selected rotavirus A-infected pigeons (A and B) from two outbreaks (A in the Łódź and B in the Silesia voivodeships). Severe congestion, and focal, mainly perivascular mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate (white arrows), consisting of lymphocytes, plasma cells and histiocytes, degenerative and necrotic changes of hepatocytes (black arrows) – magnification 100× (A); severe congestion, haemorrhaging, massive haemorrhagic necrosis of hepatic parenchyma, and perivascular inflammatory infiltrate (white arrows) – magnification 40× (Ba); severe congestion, haemorrhaging and perivascular mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate (white arrows), consisting of lymphocytes, plasma cells and histiocytes – magnification 200× (Bb)

Fig. 6.

Phylogenetic analysis of partial rotavirus A VP6 genotype I4 sequences from pigeons, domestic poultry, and other species. Sequences 392 base pairs long originating from Polish pigeons were analysed together with sequences obtained from GenBank. Bootstrap values above 70 are indicated at major branches. Colours indicate different pigeon-associated subclades as published by Rubbenstroth et al. (22). Subclades are labelled with the year of first reported detection in European pigeon populations or with the non-European country of detection. Sequences generated during this study are in bold
Phylogenetic analysis of partial rotavirus A VP6 genotype I4 sequences from pigeons, domestic poultry, and other species. Sequences 392 base pairs long originating from Polish pigeons were analysed together with sequences obtained from GenBank. Bootstrap values above 70 are indicated at major branches. Colours indicate different pigeon-associated subclades as published by Rubbenstroth et al. (22). Subclades are labelled with the year of first reported detection in European pigeon populations or with the non-European country of detection. Sequences generated during this study are in bold
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