Avian Paramyxovirus Type 1 Infections in Racing Pigeons in California. I. Clinical Signs, Pathology, and Serology

SUMMARY. An outbreak of diarrhea and neurological disease in California racing pigeons caused by avian paramyxovirus type 1 (PMV-1) is documented. Predominant clinical signs were polydipsia, ataxia, poor balance, torticollis, head tremors, inability to fly, and diarrhea that was unresponsive to therapy. Gross pathologic findings were often unremarkable or non-specific. The predominant histologic lesions were interstitial nephritis, chronic tubular necrosis, lymphoplasmacytic infiltration within the kidney, liver, and pancreas, and focal non-suppurative encephalitis. Pigeons from 20 submissions demonstrated characteristic clinical signs of PMV-1 infection. Pigeons from 17 submissions exhibited typical histopathology. Serologic evidence of PMV-1 infection was present in pigeons from 13 submissions, and PMV-1 was isolated from pigeons received in six submissions. None of these pigeons had been vaccinated against PMV-1. RESUMEN. Reporte de Caso-Infecciones por paramixovirus aviar tipo 1, en palomas mensajeras en California. I. Signos clinicos, patologia y serologia. Se documenta un brote de diarrea y enfermedad neurol6gica en palomas mensajeras de