Paramyxovirus infection

[Guest CS]

Paramyxovirus infection

 

Paramyxovirus infection occurs in pigeons as an acute disease, taking an epidemic course.

 

Pathogen:

The paramyxovirus is related to the Newcastle disease pathogen, but not identical. The virus is highly pathogenic for pigeons, but not for other domestic bird species.

 

Course of the disease:

Within just a few days of infection, both visibly and latently affected birds shed the virus in secretions from the conjunctiva, nose and throat, as well as in the faeces. The incubation period ranges from 3 to 21 days. Up to 30% of affected pigeons may recover spon-taneously after around 4 weeks of illness.

 

Symptoms of the disease:

The initial signs of paramyxovirosis are increased water intake combined with reduced feed consumption, emaciation and diarrhoea-like faeces due to a pathogenic increase in fluid excretion (= polyuria: puddles containing floating particles of faeces are formed in the loft). This is typically followed by uni- or bilateral paralysis of the legs, timidity, torsion of the neck, twisting movements of the body, overturning and walking backwards. Most pigeons die.

 

Recognition of the disease:

The virus can be demonstrated in specially equipped laboratories by virological examination of organ samples (brain, kidneys) from dead pigeons. Antibody demonstration is performed by serological examination of blood samples taken from affected pigeons not earlier than 2 weeks after infection.

 

 

 

Treatment:

As with other viral diseases, there is no effective treatment for affected pigeons.

If infection is suspected in a flock, emergency vaccination can be carried out in all pigeons that appear healthy in order to prevent the infection spreading (see annual prevention plan: paramyxovirus vaccination plan, starting on day 4 = vaccination day). Visibly affected birds should be excluded from emergency vaccination and removed from the flock, since by shedding the virus they put the remainder of the flock at risk until vaccine protection is acquired.

Administration of livimun® and multivitamin EB12 is recommended to boost the birds' natural resistance.

 

Prevention:

Only active immunisation (see annual prevention plan: paramyxovirus vaccination plan) protects the pigeons, which then develop a stable immunity within 3-4 weeks.

 

Central nervous disorders in pigeons with paramyxovirosis: Torsion of the head

 

Faeces in paramyxovirosis: Formed faecal particles in a water puddle with renal failure. In paramyxovirosis the thin faeces are caused not by a functional disorder of the intestine, but of the kidneys.

 

Should we now be looking at a once in a lifetime only vaccination? or is there to much money made for it ever to happen?

 

[jimmy white]

ITS A HORRIBLE DESEASE, BUT THINK THERES TOO MUCH MONEY TO BE MADE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN [ONLY MY OPINION] WEVE NO ARGUEMENT UP HERE WEVE GOT TO VACCINATE

[Guest CS]

Causes and Clinical Signs

 

Paramyxovirus infection is due to a virus known as PMV3.  Affected birds will at first have an increased thirst and will pass liquid faces - this may be followed by nervous signs.  The nervous signs seen include paralysis, torsion of the neck and uncoordinated body movements – not all these signs will necessarily occur in each affected bird.

 

 

 

Diagnosis

 

Diagnosis is based largely on the clinical signs and it can be confirmed by blood tests. The disease needs to be differentiated from Salmonellosis, other causes of wet droppings and other causes of nervous signs including poisoning.

 

 

 

Treatment

 

As this condition is due to a virus no specific treatment is available.  Antibiotics and multi vitamins may be used if the birds are under stress.

 

 

 

Prevention

 

As treatment of Paramyxovirus is unrewarding due to the absence of useful antiviral agents, prevention of this disease is very important.  There are vaccines licensed for use in pigeons in the U.K.

 

 

 

Timing of Vaccination

 

The best time to vaccinate young birds is during the last two weeks of March and the first week of April.  The young birds should be at least 3 weeks old and vaccination should be complete 10 to 14 days before the onset of the old-bird racing season.  This will prevent infection of susceptible young birds by virus mechanically brought back to the loft by the older birds.  If vaccination cannot be completed before the old bird racing season then young birds must be kept separate from the older birds and vaccination must be completed 10 to 14 days before the start of the young-bird racing season.  The best time to vaccinate older birds is during November and December before the start of the laying season.

 

Vaccines are given subcutaneously in the midline of the neck with the needle towards the tail of the bird.  Great care must be taken to keep the needles, bottles etc as clean as possible.  Needles should be changed after every ten birds or more often if they become contaminated.  Take care in disposing of used needles; they should be returned to the practice in a solid container so that they can be disposed of correctly.  Any post vaccine reaction in the bird should be reported immediately to the veterinary surgeon.

 

[jimmy_84]

i am curious if you have vaccinated birds that then come into contact with the virus i know they are safe but then if the vaccinated bird's then came into contact with non-vaccinated birds would they pass on this virus

 

Just curious to know

[kirky]

vaccinated birds can be carriers if thay come in contact with virus,

[jimmy_84]

i thought so just wondered

[bewted]

and vaccinated birds can still get it if my memory serves me right !!!!

[jimmy_84]

and vaccinated birds can still get it if my memory serves me right !!!!

 

if this is the case why vaccinate them to start with

[lofty]

The purpose of vaccination is to prevent  disease becoming established so vaccinated birds should not be able to pass on the virus

as far as I am aware pigeons eventually clear the virus from their system

But failure can result from

Poor storage of the vaccine

Incorect vaccination technique

the pressence of passive antibodies (vaccinating birds that where too young)

exposure to a different strain of virus than the one vaccinated against

an overwhelming infection( exposure to massive numbers of virus)  or exposure before antibodies have been produced

general poor responers

depressed immune system due to stress or concurrent disease

Lofty

[jimmy_84]

thankyou for that Lofty

[bewted]

lofty if i remember right from years ago,,,,there were i think 9 differant types of paramyxo and the vaccine only covered i believe 3 or 4 of them,,,,,,many questions were asked then,,,why do we have to inject if they only cover less than half of the virus,,,,,,to this date no clear answer !!!!

[lofty]

I believe in the hope that the immune system will get some clues regarding making antibodies!

fortunately some strains are quite mild and the birds are able to deal with them

But like most viruses paramyxovirus will continue to mutate -some times more virulent, sometimes milder.

All we can do is keep our fingers crossed that the birds are covered for the strains they meet!

pigeons are able to recover from Paramyxovirus and breed good youngsters even if they may not be able to race themselves

 

I have a cock west of England who was very badly infected he couldn't fly and carried his head to one side for months

he has now  fully recovered and since his illness, is rearing his 3rd set of youngsters  as I type.

None of his youngsters have shown any evidence of disease. But I'm pretty sure he will have given them a strong pasive immunity

from his crop milk.

Lofty

[Guest IB]

i am curious if you have vaccinated birds that then come into contact with the virus i know they are safe but then if the vaccinated bird's then came into contact with non-vaccinated birds would they pass on this virus

 

Just curious to know

 

Vaccinating a bird trains its immune system to recognise that particular disease organism. I think when a vaccinated pigeon comes into contact with the disease organism, in this case paramyxovirus, it would instantly recognise it, develop antibodies against it and kill it.

 

I do not vaccinate my stock pigeons for this reason. The racers provide a protective vaccinated ring around them, they can't bring it into the loft.

[irish_mat]

Hello just started racing i have a 08 yb i have spotted  and blood vessel or something like it an othe pigeon man said thats what it was is it a sign of pmv he tied abit of thread round it and he said it would fall off the pigeon is in good healht all my pigeon are wb.

[DOVEScot]

Hello just started racing i have a 08 yb i have spotted  and blood vessel or something like it an othe pigeon man said thats what it was is it a sign of pmv he tied abit of thread round it and he said it would fall off the pigeon is in good healht all my pigeon are wb.

 

Read this

 

http://forum.pigeonbasics.com/m-1216403970/