Herpetic Pneumonia in Indian Ringneck Parrots (Psittacula krameri): First Report of Novel Psittacid Alphaherpesvirus-5 Infection in Europe

Bottinelli, Marco; Fortin, Andrea; Zanardello, Claudia; Budai, Jane; Gobbo, Federica; Antonazzo, Gianmaria; Leone, Stefania; Merenda, Marianna; Terregino, Calogero; Catania, Salvatore

doi:10.3390/ani12020188

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Herpetic Pneumonia in Indian Ringneck Parrots (Psittacula krameri): First Report of Novel Psittacid Alphaherpesvirus-5 Infection in Europe

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SCT1-Verona, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 37060 Buttapietra, VR, Italy

SCS6 Virologia Speciale e Sperimentazione, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy

SCS3 Diagnostica Specialistica e Istopatologia, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy

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Private Practitioner—Ambulatorio Veterinario Vestina, 65015 Montesilvano, PE, Italy

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Academic Editor: Clive J. C. Phillips

Animals 2022, 12(2), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12020188

Received: 13 December 2021 / Revised: 1 January 2022 / Accepted: 11 January 2022 / Published: 13 January 2022

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research in Animal Herpesviruses)

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Herpesviridae is a large family of double-stranded DNA viruses that infect many different animal species. Herpesvirus infections are common in avian species and, to date, three different alphaherpesvirus species have been recognized as causative agents of disease in Psittaciformes. However, there are reports of respiratory disease in parrots characterized by the presence of distinctive herpes-related histologic lesions, albeit with no identified etiology. Our study acknowledges the unprecedented presence of the novel Psittacid alphaherpesvirus-5 in Europe. Necropsy was performed on Indian ringneck parrots deceased after severe respiratory distress and diagnosis was achieved through histological examination, visualization of the virions by electron microscopy and genome sequencing. The pathogen has been reported only once in Australia and the present report raises the probability that its distribution is wider and it should be included in the list of pathogens threatening parrot populations.

Abstract

The first two European outbreaks of herpetic pneumonia caused by Psittacid alphaherpesvirus-5 were diagnosed based on gross pathology findings, histological examination, transmission electron microscopy visualization and genome sequencing. The outbreaks, characterized by high morbidity and high mortality rates, involved two parrot species, namely the Indian ringneck parrot (Psittacula krameri) and the Alexandrine parakeet (Psittacula eupatria). Clinical signs observed were ruffled feathers, dyspnea, tail bobbing, open wings while breathing, depression and anorexia. Necropsy was performed on Indian ringneck parrots only, and the most evident and serious gross lesion found in all the birds was a diffuse marked consolidation of the lungs associated with parenchyma congestion and oedema. Histological examination confirmed the existence of bronchopneumonia characterized by the presence of syncytial cells with intranuclear inclusion bodies. In one bird, fibrinous airsacculitis was observed as well. Lung tissue inspection through electron microscopy revealed the presence of virus particles resembling herpesviruses. Viral DNA was extracted, amplified using primers for Alloherpesviridae DNA polymerase gene detection, and then sequenced. BLAST analysis showed a 100% identity with the only previously reported sequence of PsHV-5 (MK955929.1). View Full-Text

Keywords: herpesvirus; PsHV-5; parrots; respiratory disease; pneumonia

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MDPI and ACS Style

Bottinelli, M.; Fortin, A.; Zanardello, C.; Budai, J.; Gobbo, F.; Antonazzo, G.; Leone, S.; Merenda, M.; Terregino, C.; Catania, S. Herpetic Pneumonia in Indian Ringneck Parrots (Psittacula krameri): First Report of Novel Psittacid Alphaherpesvirus-5 Infection in Europe. Animals 2022, 12, 188. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12020188

AMA Style

Bottinelli M, Fortin A, Zanardello C, Budai J, Gobbo F, Antonazzo G, Leone S, Merenda M, Terregino C, Catania S. Herpetic Pneumonia in Indian Ringneck Parrots (Psittacula krameri): First Report of Novel Psittacid Alphaherpesvirus-5 Infection in Europe. Animals. 2022; 12(2):188. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12020188

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bottinelli, Marco, Andrea Fortin, Claudia Zanardello, Jane Budai, Federica Gobbo, Gianmaria Antonazzo, Stefania Leone, Marianna Merenda, Calogero Terregino, and Salvatore Catania. 2022. "Herpetic Pneumonia in Indian Ringneck Parrots (Psittacula krameri): First Report of Novel Psittacid Alphaherpesvirus-5 Infection in Europe" Animals 12, no. 2: 188. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12020188

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Herpetic Pneumonia in Indian Ringneck Parrots (Psittacula krameri): First Report of Novel Psittacid Alphaherpesvirus-5 Infection in Europe

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