Date of first confirmation of the event: 28 Oct 2009
Date submitted to OIE: 5 Nov 2009
Serotype: H5N1
Affected population: a _Columba livia_ (rock dove) found sick in depression on a balcony of a block of flats. It was sent by local veterinary services to the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Moscow.
[The identification of HPAI H5N1 in a single feral dove in the city of Moscow may be regarded as indicative of a wider circulation of the virus in wildlife (or contact with uncontrolled, internationally traded pet/wild birds?). Russia's Central Federal District, where Moscow is situated, has not been affected by H5N1 since 2007. In February 2007, 3 backyard bird flocks were found infected with HPAI H5N1 in the Moscow oblast. According to the epidemiological comment in the official OIE notification, submitted 19 Feb 2007, "Live bird market "Sadovod" in Moscow is suspected to be a source of infection as birds bought at this market were introduced in the backyard flocks indicated above."
Results of the current isolate's genotyping, reportedly already undertaken by the All-Russian Research Institute for Animal Health, particularly in relation to previous isolates, are awaited with interest.
The feral pigeon (or "rock dove") _Columba livia_, has been included since 2004 in the list of species known to be affected by HPAI H5N1, as published by the USGS (United states Geological Survey). 2 other species belonging to the order _Columbiformes_ are listed as well.
Date submitted to OIE: 5 Nov 2009
Serotype: H5N1
Affected population: a _Columba livia_ (rock dove) found sick in depression on a balcony of a block of flats. It was sent by local veterinary services to the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Moscow.
[The identification of HPAI H5N1 in a single feral dove in the city of Moscow may be regarded as indicative of a wider circulation of the virus in wildlife (or contact with uncontrolled, internationally traded pet/wild birds?). Russia's Central Federal District, where Moscow is situated, has not been affected by H5N1 since 2007. In February 2007, 3 backyard bird flocks were found infected with HPAI H5N1 in the Moscow oblast. According to the epidemiological comment in the official OIE notification, submitted 19 Feb 2007, "Live bird market "Sadovod" in Moscow is suspected to be a source of infection as birds bought at this market were introduced in the backyard flocks indicated above."
Results of the current isolate's genotyping, reportedly already undertaken by the All-Russian Research Institute for Animal Health, particularly in relation to previous isolates, are awaited with interest.
The feral pigeon (or "rock dove") _Columba livia_, has been included since 2004 in the list of species known to be affected by HPAI H5N1, as published by the USGS (United states Geological Survey). 2 other species belonging to the order _Columbiformes_ are listed as well.