Please have a look at this if you live in the Melbourne area.
Cheers,
James O’Connor | Head of Research
BirdLife Australia, Suite 2-05, 60 Leicester St, Carlton VIC 3053
Tel: (+61 3) 9347 0757 | Fax: (+61 3) 9347 9323
________________________________ From: Grillo, Tiggy [mailto:tgrillo@zoo.nsw.gov.au] Sent: Monday, 6 February 2012 12:51 PM Subject: AWHN NOTIFICATION: PMV-1 confirmed in two additional species (Sparrow Hawk & Spotted Turtledove)
AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE HEALTH NETWORK NOTIFICATION Dear AWHN NAIWB Steering Group, Zoo Animal Health Reference Group & Universities Group, Please note the following update from the Victorian DPI which confirms detection of pigeon paramyxovirus 1 (PMV-1) in two additional species of birds in Melbourne. One sparrow hawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus) found dead and one spotted turtledove (an introduced free-ranging feral species of dove) have been confirmed with the disease. It is assumed that these birds were infected through contact with feral pigeons. The DPI Victoria website provides the following details – see http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/animal-diseases/vetsource/vetwatch/vet-watch-february-2012 Sparrowhawk case: “PMV-1 was isolated from the tissues a sick sparrow hawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus) – a raptor native to Australia. The bird was collected by a park ranger, who had been monitoring a family of sparrow hawks in a park in central Melbourne. Four birds died around or before 10 January with some displaying neurological signs before death. Paramyxovirus 1 infected feral pigeons had previously been confirmed in the immediate area and it is likely that infection in the sparrow hawk may be the result of high virus challenge associated with recent predation on diseased pigeons. Although this is the first time pigeon paramyxovirus 1 has been isolated in a native species in Australia, there are several reports of predatory and in-contact birds becoming infected in endemic countries overseas.” Spotted turtle dove case: “PMV-1 was confirmed in a spotted turtle dove (Streptopelia chinensis), an introduced species. The bird had been in close contact with a group of semi-feral pigeons which have been previously diagnosed with paramyxovirus.” We would like to ask AWHN subscribers (outside Victoria) to continue to be alert to any signs of disease that are unusual or clusters of deaths in wild birds. Please report these to your local AWHN Wildlife Coordinator, your local department of agriculture, or call the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline: 1800 675 888.
IN VICTORIA WHERE A NUMBER OF WILD BIRDS SHOWING CLINICAL SIGNS
Thank you for your assistance, Tiggy ********************************************************** ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OIE Reporting: This information has been reported to the OIE by Dr Mark Schipp, ACVO, DAFF . The report notes “that PMV-1 infection has been confirmed in a sparrow hawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus) in close contact with known infected pigeons in urban Melbourne. Sparrow hawks are known to feed on pigeons in Australia. PMV-1 infection has also been confirmed in a feral spotted turtle dove (Streptopelia chinensis). In the Victorian urban environment spotted turtle doves are commonly found in close association with feral pigeons. Occasional cases of APMV-1 in hobby and feral pigeons in Victoria continue to be reported. The event remains limited to Victoria. See link to report: http://web.oie.int/wahis/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=11546
DPI Vic website: http://dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/animal-diseases/pigeon-virus including the latest Situation Update 03/03/2012 – http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/animal-diseases/pigeon-virus/situation-update which has a link to a recent Map of Outbreak Locations.
* Avian Paramyxovirus fact sheet for pigeon owners
National Pests & Disease Outbreak website: http://www.outbreak.gov.au/pests_diseases/pests_diseases_animals/avian-paramyxovirus/index.html
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