The First Demonstration of Pigeon Circovirus Infection in the Czech Republic Based on Histology and Nested PCR

Abstract

The aim of the study was to demonstrate presence of pigeon circovirus in the Czech Republic. Squabs suspected of being infected with pigeon circovirus were selected based on clinical and pathological testing. To reach the diagnosis, a method of proving the pigeon circovirus DNA based on nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed. The specificity of the PCR reaction was verified using PCR product sequencing. A sequence of PCR products was compared against pigeon circovirus sequences published so far. The comparison has confirmed the highest relation between the isolate South Moravian 1 detected by us and the North-Irish isolate 7050. The trial has thus brought an ultimate proof of the presence of pigeon circovirus in the Czech Republic. The nested PCR method for proving pigeon circovirus was developed and a new isolate of the virus was detected.