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Source: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/29/12/23-0250_article
Volume 29, Number 12—December 2023
Research Volume 29, Number 12—December 2023
Research
Fatal Human Neurologic Infection Caused by Pigeon Avian Paramyxovirus-1, Australia
Siobhan Hurley1
, John Sebastian Eden1, John Bingham, Michael Rodriguez, Matthew J. Neave, Alexandra Johnson, Annaleise R. Howard-Jones, Jen Kok, Antoinette Anazodo, Brendan McMullan, David T. Williams, James Watson, Annalisa Solinas, Ki Wook Kim2, and William Rawlinson2
Author affiliations: Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia (S. Hurley, K.W. Kim); Westmead Institute for Medical Research Centre for Virus Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia (J.S. Eden); Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (J.S. Eden, A.R. Howard-Jones); CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, Victoria, Australia (J. Bingham, M.J. Neave, D.T. Williams, J. Watson); Prince of Wales and Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick (M. Rodriguez, A. Solinas); Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick (A. Johnson, B. McMullan); Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, New South Wales Health Pathology–Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead (A.R. Howard-Jones, J. Kok); Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick (A. Anazodo); University of New South Wales Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Sydney (B. McMullan, K. Kim); Prince of Wales Hospital and Community Health Services, Sydney (W. Rawlinson); University of New South Wales Schools of Clinical Medicine, Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Sydney (W. Rawlinson)
Abstract
Avian paramyxovirus type 1 (APMV-1) is a virus of birds that results in a range of outcomes, from asymptomatic infections to outbreaks of systemic respiratory and neurologic disease, depending on the virus strain and the avian species affected. Humans are rarely affected; those who are predominantly experience mild conjunctivitis. We report a fatal case of neurologic disease in a 2-year-old immunocompromised child in Australia. Metagenomic sequencing and histopathology identified the causative agent as the pigeon variant of APMV-1. This diagnosis should be considered in neurologic conditions of undefined etiologies. Agnostic metagenomic sequencing methods are useful in such settings to direct diagnostic and therapeutic efforts.
Volume 29, Number 12—December 2023
Research Volume 29, Number 12—December 2023
Research
Fatal Human Neurologic Infection Caused by Pigeon Avian Paramyxovirus-1, Australia
Siobhan Hurley1
, John Sebastian Eden1, John Bingham, Michael Rodriguez, Matthew J. Neave, Alexandra Johnson, Annaleise R. Howard-Jones, Jen Kok, Antoinette Anazodo, Brendan McMullan, David T. Williams, James Watson, Annalisa Solinas, Ki Wook Kim2, and William Rawlinson2Author affiliations: Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia (S. Hurley, K.W. Kim); Westmead Institute for Medical Research Centre for Virus Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia (J.S. Eden); Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (J.S. Eden, A.R. Howard-Jones); CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, Victoria, Australia (J. Bingham, M.J. Neave, D.T. Williams, J. Watson); Prince of Wales and Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick (M. Rodriguez, A. Solinas); Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick (A. Johnson, B. McMullan); Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, New South Wales Health Pathology–Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead (A.R. Howard-Jones, J. Kok); Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick (A. Anazodo); University of New South Wales Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Sydney (B. McMullan, K. Kim); Prince of Wales Hospital and Community Health Services, Sydney (W. Rawlinson); University of New South Wales Schools of Clinical Medicine, Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Sydney (W. Rawlinson)
Abstract
Avian paramyxovirus type 1 (APMV-1) is a virus of birds that results in a range of outcomes, from asymptomatic infections to outbreaks of systemic respiratory and neurologic disease, depending on the virus strain and the avian species affected. Humans are rarely affected; those who are predominantly experience mild conjunctivitis. We report a fatal case of neurologic disease in a 2-year-old immunocompromised child in Australia. Metagenomic sequencing and histopathology identified the causative agent as the pigeon variant of APMV-1. This diagnosis should be considered in neurologic conditions of undefined etiologies. Agnostic metagenomic sequencing methods are useful in such settings to direct diagnostic and therapeutic efforts.