Pheasant coronavirus (PhCoV) has been isolated in the UK and Italy in the last few decades. A serological survey was carried out in the Emilia-Romagna Region (Northern Italy) in order to establish the occurrence and spread of coronavirus infection in farm-bred and free-living pheasants. Seven hundred and four sera were obtained during 1998 from 16 game farms. 275 sera were collected from 1995 to 2002 from free-living pheasants, belonging to a natural population: these were classified as “wild” and “restocked” (a few reared birds released in the study area). A blocking ELISA (Svanovir®) test was employed for the detection of antibodies cross reactive to Infectious Bronchitis Virus in sera. Seropositive animals were detected in 5 out 16 game farms examined, while only two free-living pheasants (a restocked bird and an unclassified one) were seropositive. These data confirm that the infection was present in Italian-reared pheasants, but the free-living sampled population appeared to be free from the infection. The authors emphasise the risk of spreading the infection to wild bird populations by game restocking activities.
CORONAVIRUS SEROLOGICAL SURVEY IN REARED AND FREE-LIVING PHEASANTS (PHASIANUS COLCHICUS) IN ITALY
CECCHINATO, MATTIA;
2004
Abstract
Pheasant coronavirus (PhCoV) has been isolated in the UK and Italy in the last few decades. A serological survey was carried out in the Emilia-Romagna Region (Northern Italy) in order to establish the occurrence and spread of coronavirus infection in farm-bred and free-living pheasants. Seven hundred and four sera were obtained during 1998 from 16 game farms. 275 sera were collected from 1995 to 2002 from free-living pheasants, belonging to a natural population: these were classified as “wild” and “restocked” (a few reared birds released in the study area). A blocking ELISA (Svanovir®) test was employed for the detection of antibodies cross reactive to Infectious Bronchitis Virus in sera. Seropositive animals were detected in 5 out 16 game farms examined, while only two free-living pheasants (a restocked bird and an unclassified one) were seropositive. These data confirm that the infection was present in Italian-reared pheasants, but the free-living sampled population appeared to be free from the infection. The authors emphasise the risk of spreading the infection to wild bird populations by game restocking activities.
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