Serosurvey of H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus in Local Domestic and Feral Pigeons

Background and aim: There are global concerns about members of the Columbidae family, namely pigeons or doves, for their role as the potential interspecies bridge in influenza a viruses ecology. This study was carried out to find the serological status of local domestic and feral pigeons to H9N2 avian influenza virus. Materials and Methods: For this reason, serological survey was carried out from April to December 2022 in two-hundred blood samples (one-hundred samples from each group) of clinically healthy local domestic (Columba livia domestica) and feral pigeons (Columba livia) in different locations of Shiraz city, Southwestern Iran, using hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test. The studied pigeons had no history of vaccination against any disease. Results: The results showed that both groups of pigeons had antibody titers to varying degrees against H9N2 avian influenza virus. The mean HI titers and seroprevalence against H9N2 were 3.9/16% in local domestic and 4.31/25% in feral pigeons, respectively. According to statistical analysis of results by Student’s t test, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) between two groups in terms of HI antibody titers and percentage of seropositive results. Conclusions: Results of this study revealed that both local domestic and feral pigeons had HI antibody titers to some extent against H9N2 AIV. The number of positive results and antibody titers in feral pigeons were higher than local domestic pigeons due to free-flying properties of feral pigeons. Both groups of pigeons in this study can be potential healthy reservoirs of low pathogenic avian influenza virus and play an important role in spreading of AIVs as natural carriers.

Serosurvey of H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus in Local Domestic and Feral Pigeons Keywords:

Serosurvey , H9N2 Influenza Virus , Pigeon , بررسی سرولوژی , ویروس آنفلوانزای H9N2 , کبوتر