The First Study of West Nile Virus in Feral Pigeons (Columba livia domestica) Using Conventional Reverse Transcriptase PCR in Semnan and Khorasane-Razavi Provinces, Northeast of Iran

Hamid Staji; Morteza Keyvanlou; Zeinab Geraili; Hedyeh Shahsavari; Elnaz Jafari

doi:10.18502/jad.v15i1.6492

Hamid Staji Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
Morteza Keyvanlou Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
Zeinab Geraili Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
Hedyeh Shahsavari Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
Elnaz Jafari Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jad.v15i1.6492

Keywords: Feral Pigeons; West Nile Virus; RT-PCR; Iran

Abstract

Background: West Nile Virus (WNV) is an arboviral infection continuing to be as major threat to human health as well as the livestock industry all around the world. Birds including pigeons are one of the potential reservoirs for WNV. This study aimed to detect the presence of WNV genome in feral pigeons circulating in Semnan and Khorasane-Razavi Provinces (Iran) including 10 urban and 10 suburban areas.

Methods: Totally, 150 samples (brain and kidney) were collected equally from feral pigeons and the presence of WNV genome was evaluated in these samples after RNA extraction.

Results: All the samples were negative for the presence of WNV-RNA in this investigation.

Conclusion: Although obtained result indicated no evidence of WNV genome in feral pigeons but complementary studies regarding serologic detection of WNV in vertebrate hosts as well as pigeons and identification of arthropod vectors seems necessary for comprehensive determination about infection status in these areas.