Evidence of avian influenza virus and paramyxovirus subtype 2 in wild-living passerine birds in Slovenia

Abstract

A total of 670 cloacal swabs were taken from 37 species of wild-living passerine birds in years 2004, 2005, and 2006. The cloacal swabs were pooled into pools of three swabs for analysis. Isolation of avian influenza virus (AIV) and avian paramyxoviruses (APMV) was done on chicken embryos. One-step reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect AIV RNA. AIV nucleic acid was detected by RT-PCR in a sample of one common starling (Sturnus vulgaris). All attempts of AIV isolation from wild-living passerine birds’ samples were negative. APMV 2 was isolated in one robin (Erithacus rubecula) sample. In light of the presented results and literature data, passerines appear to play a minor role as potential disseminators of AIV and APMV; however, it seems that some wild-living passerine species could act as occasional carriers.