{"title":"Widely Distributed Pigeon Paramyxovirus Sub-Genotypes Pose a Risk to Immunocompromised Humans.","authors":"Celia Abolnik, Michaela Hayes","doi":"10.1111/zph.70011","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 (PPMV-1) is an antigenic variant of Avian Orthoavulavirus 1 (AOAV-1) (Newcastle disease virus) with a global distribution that causes lethal infections in pigeon and dove species. AOAV-1's infecting humans normally cause mild, self-limiting conjunctivitis, but since 2003, PPMV-1 has been associated with an increased number of severe and lethal respiratory and neurological infections in immunocompromised persons in the Netherlands, the USA, France, China and Australia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>PPMV-1's isolated from free-living pigeons and doves across South Africa from 2012 to 2024 were sequenced using conventional or next generation technologies. Maximum likelihood and time-scaled phylogenetic analyses were conducted. Cases of human infections with AOAV-1 were reviewed, and where the genotypes were not previously assigned, the sequence data were re-analysed for classification purposes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PPMV-1 sub-genotype VI.2.1.1.2.1, present in South Africa since at least 2005, continued to circulate in 2021. Sub-genotype VI.2.1.1.2.2, that is widely distributed across Europe, Asia and Australia, was identified in South Africa for the first time, with introduction estimated around September 2017 (95% HPD January 2016-June 2019). Previously unclassified viruses causing lethal human infections in the Netherlands (2003), the USA (2007) and France (2021) were identified as sub-genotypes VI.2.1.1.2.2, VI.2.1.1.1 and XXI.1.1, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Five recorded AOAV-1-associated human fatalities since 1953 were all caused by PPMV-1. Three out of the five human fatalities, plus one seriously ill survivor, were associated with sub-genotype VI.2.1.1.2.2 viruses, and sub-genotypes VI.2.1.1.1 and XXI.1.1 each caused one human death. PPMV-1's, found widely in pigeons and doves, pose a serious health risk to immunocompromised persons.</p>","PeriodicalId":24025,"journal":{"name":"Zoonoses and Public Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Zoonoses and Public Health","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.70011","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 (PPMV-1) is an antigenic variant of Avian Orthoavulavirus 1 (AOAV-1) (Newcastle disease virus) with a global distribution that causes lethal infections in pigeon and dove species. AOAV-1's infecting humans normally cause mild, self-limiting conjunctivitis, but since 2003, PPMV-1 has been associated with an increased number of severe and lethal respiratory and neurological infections in immunocompromised persons in the Netherlands, the USA, France, China and Australia.
Methods: PPMV-1's isolated from free-living pigeons and doves across South Africa from 2012 to 2024 were sequenced using conventional or next generation technologies. Maximum likelihood and time-scaled phylogenetic analyses were conducted. Cases of human infections with AOAV-1 were reviewed, and where the genotypes were not previously assigned, the sequence data were re-analysed for classification purposes.
Results: PPMV-1 sub-genotype VI.2.1.1.2.1, present in South Africa since at least 2005, continued to circulate in 2021. Sub-genotype VI.2.1.1.2.2, that is widely distributed across Europe, Asia and Australia, was identified in South Africa for the first time, with introduction estimated around September 2017 (95% HPD January 2016-June 2019). Previously unclassified viruses causing lethal human infections in the Netherlands (2003), the USA (2007) and France (2021) were identified as sub-genotypes VI.2.1.1.2.2, VI.2.1.1.1 and XXI.1.1, respectively.
Conclusions: Five recorded AOAV-1-associated human fatalities since 1953 were all caused by PPMV-1. Three out of the five human fatalities, plus one seriously ill survivor, were associated with sub-genotype VI.2.1.1.2.2 viruses, and sub-genotypes VI.2.1.1.1 and XXI.1.1 each caused one human death. PPMV-1's, found widely in pigeons and doves, pose a serious health risk to immunocompromised persons.
期刊介绍:
Zoonoses and Public Health brings together veterinary and human health researchers and policy-makers by providing a venue for publishing integrated and global approaches to zoonoses and public health. The Editors will consider papers that focus on timely collaborative and multi-disciplinary research in zoonoses and public health. This journal provides rapid publication of original papers, reviews, and potential discussion papers embracing this collaborative spirit. Papers should advance the scientific knowledge of the sources, transmission, prevention and control of zoonoses and be authored by scientists with expertise in areas such as microbiology, virology, parasitology and epidemiology. Articles that incorporate recent data into new methods, applications, or approaches (e.g. statistical modeling) which enhance public health are strongly encouraged.