Risk assessment of the pigeon pathogen Pigeon circovirus

Pigeon circovirus (PiCV, also columbid circovirus) from the family Circoviridae is a non-enveloped virus with a circular, single-stranded DNA genome. The virus was first detected in the late 1980s and 1990s in tissue samples from domestic pigeons ( Columba livia domestica ) from Australia, Canada, and the USA. Since then, viral DNA has been detected worldwide, but infections have only been observed in various pigeon species. There are currently no reports of infection in other animals or humans. PiCV is probably transmitted mainly horizontally via contaminated materials and feather dust. Vertical transmission to the embryo in the egg has also been documented. PiCV infections are associated with the presumably multifactorial young pigeon disease, in which co-infections with various other viruses, bacteria, fungi, and/or parasites can usually be detected in the affected birds in addition to the PiCV infection. The symptoms of PiCV infection are non-specific and include reduced food intake, diarrhea, vomiting, apathy, ruffled plumage, and neurological symptoms such as disorientation and movement disorders. The average mortality rate in infected pigeons is 20%, but can be significantly higher in individual cases. Based on the findings of the Young pigeon disease It is suspected that PiCV infection is a Immunosuppression which only manifests itself in symptoms when co-infected with another pathogen.

According to Section 5 Paragraph 1 GenTSV in conjunction with the criteria in Annex 1 GenTSV, the ZKBS classifies the PiCV as a donor and recipient organism for genetic engineering work of the Risk group 2 Although PiCV alone cannot cause disease according to current knowledge, it must be assumed that PiCV, due to its probable immunosuppressive effect, plays a significant role in the development of a disease that is potentially fatal for pigeons.

The ZKBS statement can be found at File number 45242.0190 can be retrieved.