A study has finally uncovered the reason for the deaths of several pigeons in São Paulo. For those who do not remember, in 2019 several birds of the species were found dead or sick and with neurological symptoms near the Zoonosis Control Center in the capital Sao Paulo.
Posted in Virus magazine and published by the FAPESP agency, the research revealed that the deaths of the pigeons were caused by avian paramyxovirus type 1 (PPMV), also known as the Newcastle disease virus. The pathogen rarely infects people, but close contact with sick animals can transmit the virus. The discovery dismisses the initial suspicion linking the deaths to pollution from fires in the Amazon.
“We found that it was a virus that had been circulating silently in Brazil since 2014. Based on the molecular data, we noticed that it was the same PPMV that was identified in Porto Alegre. [RS] five years ago. And there are about 1,100 kilometers between the two cities. This fact demonstrates the potential of this pathogen to spread without being noticed, “explained Luciano Matsumiya Thomazelli, researcher at the Laboratory of Clinical and Molecular Virology of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Sao Paulo (ICB-USP) and lead author of the article.
Newcastle disease virus usually causes disease in chickens, however, the VI.2.1.2 genotype only affects pigeons. According to Helena Ferreira, professor at the Faculty of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering at the USP in Pirassununga and research coordinator, despite this being the second record in Brazil, there is no reason to panic.
“It is endemic in the pigeon population around the world, causing neurological symptoms and high mortality. There are frequent case reports in Asia, Europe and North America. Although this is the second record in Brazil, it is not a case of fanfare, as this genotype does not pose a great risk to humans or poultry, ”he assessed.
Zoonotic monitoring is extremely important for controlling outbreaks, outbreaks and new disease alerts. The ICB-USP has been operating since 2005 in various regions of Brazil and is currently part of the National Network for the Surveillance of Viruses in Wild Animals (PREVIR), promoted by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI).
The investigation received funding from FAPESP and also had the support of the Sao Paulo State Zoonosis and Surveillance Center, which identified the deaths and called the Official Veterinary Service.
“Clear and active surveillance across the country is essential to identify and control pigeon populations not only near farms, but also in urban areas. Monitoring the Newcastle disease virus is also economically important, as Brazil is the largest exporter of chicken in the world, “said Thomazelli.
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Source: Olhar Digital