Identification and characterization of pigeon adenovirus 1 as an emerging pathogen in pigeons from Northern and Northwest China

Abstract Background In 2022, a new infectious disease characterized by severe acute hepatitis, sudden death, and high mortality among breeding pigeons, was reported in China. Results In naturally infected pigeons, key necropsy findings comprised hepatic swelling with patchy hemorrhage and pericardia...

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Main Authors: Zhiyuan Yang, Yuting Zhou, Jian Lin, Xiuqing Wang, Cheng Huang, Jie Gao, Guoliang Wang, Baolin Yang, Guiming Liu, Huijuan Duan, Jian Cui, Jicheng Zhao, Weijue Luo, Shuisheng Cheng, Yuehuan Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Veterinary Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04724-w
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author Zhiyuan Yang
Yuting Zhou
Jian Lin
Xiuqing Wang
Cheng Huang
Jie Gao
Guoliang Wang
Baolin Yang
Guiming Liu
Huijuan Duan
Jian Cui
Jicheng Zhao
Weijue Luo
Shuisheng Cheng
Yuehuan Liu
author_facet Zhiyuan Yang
Yuting Zhou
Jian Lin
Xiuqing Wang
Cheng Huang
Jie Gao
Guoliang Wang
Baolin Yang
Guiming Liu
Huijuan Duan
Jian Cui
Jicheng Zhao
Weijue Luo
Shuisheng Cheng
Yuehuan Liu
author_sort Zhiyuan Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background In 2022, a new infectious disease characterized by severe acute hepatitis, sudden death, and high mortality among breeding pigeons, was reported in China. Results In naturally infected pigeons, key necropsy findings comprised hepatic swelling with patchy hemorrhage and pericardial effusion. Histopathological examination further revealed degeneration, necrosis, and basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies affecting hepatocytes, cardiomyocytes, and vascular endothelial cells. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a typical icosahedral virus structure and crystal-like arrangement of viral particles in the nucleus. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of pericardial effusion samples revealed the presence of pigeon adenovirus. Sequencing analysis of the hexon and fiber-2 genes suggested that it constituted pigeon adenovirus 1 (PiAdV-1). The complete genome of CH/BJ/1/2022 was determined to be 48,071 nucleotides in length, with a 10-amino acid deletion in the fiber-2 gene at residues 627–636 and a 95-animo acid insertion in the 100 K gene at residue 75. The same disease was reproduced in pigeons by experimental infection. Conclusion Collectively, our analyses confirmed that the etiological agent was PiAdV-1, an emerging pathogen that causes severe acute hepatitis and high mortality in pigeons. This virus merits close attention because it could be catastrophic for the pigeon industry.
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spelling doaj-art-d2f6b83e39fe44318cf38a2d91d17d8c2025-08-20T03:18:53ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482025-04-0121111510.1186/s12917-025-04724-wIdentification and characterization of pigeon adenovirus 1 as an emerging pathogen in pigeons from Northern and Northwest ChinaZhiyuan Yang0Yuting Zhou1Jian Lin2Xiuqing Wang3Cheng Huang4Jie Gao5Guoliang Wang6Baolin Yang7Guiming Liu8Huijuan Duan9Jian Cui10Jicheng Zhao11Weijue Luo12Shuisheng Cheng13Yuehuan Liu14Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry SciencesInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry SciencesInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry SciencesSouth Dakota State UniversityInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry SciencesBeijing Zhonghai Biotech, Co., Ltd.Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry SciencesInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry SciencesInstitute of Biotechnology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry SciencesInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry SciencesInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry SciencesInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry SciencesBeijing Zhonghai Biotech, Co., Ltd.Beijing Zhonghai Biotech, Co., Ltd.Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry SciencesAbstract Background In 2022, a new infectious disease characterized by severe acute hepatitis, sudden death, and high mortality among breeding pigeons, was reported in China. Results In naturally infected pigeons, key necropsy findings comprised hepatic swelling with patchy hemorrhage and pericardial effusion. Histopathological examination further revealed degeneration, necrosis, and basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies affecting hepatocytes, cardiomyocytes, and vascular endothelial cells. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a typical icosahedral virus structure and crystal-like arrangement of viral particles in the nucleus. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of pericardial effusion samples revealed the presence of pigeon adenovirus. Sequencing analysis of the hexon and fiber-2 genes suggested that it constituted pigeon adenovirus 1 (PiAdV-1). The complete genome of CH/BJ/1/2022 was determined to be 48,071 nucleotides in length, with a 10-amino acid deletion in the fiber-2 gene at residues 627–636 and a 95-animo acid insertion in the 100 K gene at residue 75. The same disease was reproduced in pigeons by experimental infection. Conclusion Collectively, our analyses confirmed that the etiological agent was PiAdV-1, an emerging pathogen that causes severe acute hepatitis and high mortality in pigeons. This virus merits close attention because it could be catastrophic for the pigeon industry.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04724-wPigeon adenovirus 1PiAdV-1Fiber-2PigeonPathological changesViral characterization
spellingShingle Zhiyuan Yang
Yuting Zhou
Jian Lin
Xiuqing Wang
Cheng Huang
Jie Gao
Guoliang Wang
Baolin Yang
Guiming Liu
Huijuan Duan
Jian Cui
Jicheng Zhao
Weijue Luo
Shuisheng Cheng
Yuehuan Liu
Identification and characterization of pigeon adenovirus 1 as an emerging pathogen in pigeons from Northern and Northwest China
BMC Veterinary Research
Pigeon adenovirus 1
PiAdV-1
Fiber-2
Pigeon
Pathological changes
Viral characterization
title Identification and characterization of pigeon adenovirus 1 as an emerging pathogen in pigeons from Northern and Northwest China
title_full Identification and characterization of pigeon adenovirus 1 as an emerging pathogen in pigeons from Northern and Northwest China
title_fullStr Identification and characterization of pigeon adenovirus 1 as an emerging pathogen in pigeons from Northern and Northwest China
title_full_unstemmed Identification and characterization of pigeon adenovirus 1 as an emerging pathogen in pigeons from Northern and Northwest China
title_short Identification and characterization of pigeon adenovirus 1 as an emerging pathogen in pigeons from Northern and Northwest China
title_sort identification and characterization of pigeon adenovirus 1 as an emerging pathogen in pigeons from northern and northwest china
topic Pigeon adenovirus 1
PiAdV-1
Fiber-2
Pigeon
Pathological changes
Viral characterization
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04724-w
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