×
Paramyxovirus
This is a notifiable disease (meaning it must be reported to the APHA).
It is a variant strain of the PMV-1, Newcastle disease (NDv) virus, which is also a notifiable disease. It has been known to spread from pigeons to domestic poultry and game bird flocks where it causes the NDv syndrome. It targets the kidney and nervous systems.
Symptoms
- It can take anywhere from five days to six weeks before birds start to show symptoms after initial infection.
- Diarrhoea/green faeces.
- Loss of balance, leg/wing paralysis, circling.
- Inability to pick up feed.
- Twisted neck (torticollis).
- Medium-high mortality, especially in younger birds.
- Reduced fertility.
- Recovery if showing mild signs takes three to eight weeks.
Diagnostics
- Serum antibody levels from live birds to check for exposure if birds aren’t vaccinated.
- Viral isolation from tissues taken from birds at post-mortem.
- However, these can sometimes not give a definite result.
Treatment
- Notify APHA of outbreak (through vet), birds will have to be quarantined for at least two months.
- Support birds through the outbreak: electrolytes in water, assisted feeding to prevent starvation for the birds who can’t eat.
- Cull severely affected birds on welfare grounds.
- Clean and disinfectant all surfaces.
Prevention
- Vaccination is required in all UK races. Some outbreaks can still occur despite vaccination.
- First vaccine at three to four weeks old.
- Adults should be vaccinated each year afterwards before the start of the breeding, showing and racing season.
- Injected by sub-cutaneous method at the base of the neck, ensure to clean the needle between birds.
- Follow advice on label of the vaccine, most vaccines will deteriorate within one day of being open despite being kept in the fridge rendering them useless.
- Colombovac and Nobilis are licensed pigeon vaccines in the UK.