Antiviral Chemotherapy in Avian Medicine-A Review.

This review article describes the current knowledge about the use of antiviral chemotherapeutics in avian species, such as farm poultry and companion birds. Specific therapeutics are described in alphabetical order including classic antiviral drugs, such as acyclovir, abacavir, adefovir, amantadine, didanosine, entecavir, ganciclovir, interferon, lamivudine, penciclovir, famciclovir, oseltamivir, ribavirin, and zidovudine, repurposed drugs, such as ivermectin and nitazoxanide, which were originally used as antiparasitic drugs, and some others substances showing antiviral activity, such as ampligen, azo derivates, docosanol, fluoroarabinosylpyrimidine nucleosides, and novel peptides. Most of them have only been used for research purposes and are not widely used in clinical practice because of a lack of essential pharmacokinetic and safety data. Suggested future research directions are also highlighted.

MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF ORNITHOSTRONGYLUS QUADRIRADIATUS ISOLATED FROM A RACING PIGEON (COLUMBA LIVIA DOMESTICA).

An infestation of Ornithostrongylus quadriradiatus, has been found in a racing pigeon Columba livia domestica). In addition, this individual had a mild infection with Trichomonas spp. and Eimeria spp. The bird showed symptoms of increased appetite; unformed, dark- green feces; and lack of typical male behavior, but the general condition of this pigeon was good. The pigeon was euthanized because of a permanent inability to fly due to an injury to the wing. A postmortem examination revealed the presence of very small dark-pink twisted nematodes with the morphology of O. quadriradiatus in the small intestine, mainly the duodenum. Histopathology showed segmental inflammatory changes in the intestines caused by both blood-sucking nematodes and Eimeria spp. The 5.8S ribosomal ribonucleic acid polymerase chain reaction amplicons from deoxyribonucleic acid extracted from O. quadriradiatus had 82.40% identity with Australostrongylus victoriensis and 81.20% with Travassostrongylus spp. This is the first molecular characterization of O. quadriradiatus-a relatively rare pigeon parasite.

Bornaviral infections in Atlantic canaries (Serinus canaria) in Poland.

The presence of canary bornavirus (Orthobornavirus serini) genetic material was tested in organ samples from 157 Atlantic canaries (Serinus canaria) and four hybrids of Atlantic canary and European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis). The subjects of the research were samples collected in the years 2006-2022. A positive result was obtained in 16 canaries and one hybrid (10.5%). Eleven positive canaries had neurological signs prior to death. Four of them also had atrophic changes in the forebrain, which have not previously been described in canaries and other species of birds infected with avian bornavirus. In one canary, computed tomography without contrast was performed. This study showed no changes, despite advanced forebrain atrophy found on post-mortem examination of the bird. The organs of the studied birds were also tested with PCR tests for the presence of polyomaviruses and circoviruses. There was no correlation between the bornavirus infection and the presence of the other two viruses in the tested canaries.RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS The incidence of bornaviral infections in canaries in Poland is relatively low.Non-contrast CT is not a useful method for brain atrophy diagnostic in canaries.Neurological signs were found in the majority of birds infected with bornaviruses.Visceral ganglioneuritis was found in a minority of birds infected with bornaviruses.