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. 2017 Aug;112(8):532-536.
doi: 10.1590/0074-02760170014.

Clinical and serological tests for arboviruses in free-living domestic pigeons (Columba livia)

Bruna Alves Ramos  1 , Jannifer Oliveira Chiang  2 , Lívia Carício Martins  2 , Liliane Leal das Chagas  2 , Franko de Arruda E Silva  2 , Milene Silveira Ferreira  2 , Maria Nazaré Oliveira Freitas  2 , Bianca Nascimento de Alcantara  2 , Sandro Patroca da Silva  2 , Stefânia Araújo Miranda  3 , Barbara Alves Sepulvreda  1 , Layna Thayssa Guimarães Corrêa  4 , Andréa Maria Góes Negrão  4 , Pedro Fernando da Costa Vasconcelos  2 , Alexandre do Rosário Casseb  4
Affiliations

Clinical and serological tests for arboviruses in free-living domestic pigeons (Columba livia)

Bruna Alves Ramos et al. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2017 Aug.

Abstract

Background: In this study, we evaluated the role of free-living domestic pigeons (Columba livia) as a reservoir of arboviruses in the city of Belém, state of Pará, Brazil. We investigated the presence of antibodies against the most prevalent arboviruses.

Objectives: This study was aimed at evaluating some clinical and physical parameters of domestic pigeons, including the presence of antibodies to Amazon-endemic arboviruses.

Methods: Eighty-five healthy pigeons were captured in Mangal das Garças Park, in Belém, and were bled. Upon capture, the birds were subjected to a clinical examination in search of alterations that could indicate the presence of arboviruses. Blood samples were converted to serum and tested using the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) technique with a panel of 19 antigens of arboviruses circulating in the Amazon. The confirmation assay for the positive reactions to the viral species tested by HI was a neutralisation test in new-born Swiss albino mice (Mus musculus) [mouse neutralisation test (MNT)].

Findings: A total of 10 (11.8%) serum samples tested positive for antiflavivirus antibodies by HI. All the samples positive for the HI test were subjected to MNT for detection of viruses and yielded negative results (logarithmic neutralisation index < 1.7).

Main conclusion: The results represent the first serological detection of antiarbovirus antibodies in domestic pigeons as potential hosts of arboviruses in Brazil. The detection of haemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies against genus Flavivirus indicated that there was recent contact between the analysed domestic pigeons and these arboviruses. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of free-living pigeons in the maintenance cycle and spread of arboviruses in the Amazon.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. : domestic pigeons (Columba livia) captured in the Mangal das Garças Natural Park, Belém, state of Pará, trapped in a circular net with borders made of a polyvinyl chloride pipe.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. : monotypic and heterotypic reactions for Flavivirus observed in serum samples of domestic pigeons (Columba livia) during the haemagglutination inhibition test. BSQV: Bussuquara virus; ILHV: Ilheus virus; ROCV: Rocio virus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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