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

• Published in: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Vol. 112; no. 8; pp. 532 - 536
• Main Authors: Ramos, Bruna Alves, Chiang, Jannifer Oliveira, Martins, Lívia Carício, Chagas, Liliane Leal das, Silva, Franko de Arruda E, Ferreira, Milene Silveira, Freitas, Maria Nazaré Oliveira, Alcantara, Bianca Nascimento de, Silva, Sandro Patroca da, Miranda, Stefânia Araújo, Sepulvreda, Barbara Alves, Corrêa, Layna Thayssa Guimarães, Negrão, Andréa Maria Góes, Vasconcelos, Pedro Fernando da Costa, Casseb, Alexandre do Rosário
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde 01-08-2017; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Viral - blood; arbovirus; Arbovirus Infections - diagnosis; Arbovirus Infections - veterinary; Arbovirus Infections - virology; Arboviruses - classification; Arboviruses - immunology; Bird Diseases - diagnosis; Bird Diseases - virology; Brazil; clinical; Columbidae - virology; Disease Vectors; domestic pigeons; Female; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; Male; PARASITOLOGY; serological tests; TROPICAL MEDICINE; serological tests; domestic pigeons; clinical; arbovirus
• DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760170014
• EISSN: 1678-8060; 0074-0276
• ISSN: 0074-0276; 1678-8060

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