Diseases


Paramyxovirus PMV in Pigeons by Racing Pigeon Laboratory Testing

Racing Pigeon Paramyxovirus PMV (Paramyxo)

Signs to look out for if your pigeon contacts the Paramyxovirus Infection which is very contagious.

  • Droppings very wet liquid and greenish in colour
  • Shaking and trembling wings, neck twisting, very unbalanced, unable to peck corn.
  • Unwell and drinking a lot of water and dying over a period of a few days
  • Close contact with unvaccinated pigeons
  • Transporting pigeon’s V/A transporters that are not cleaned or sprayed with a disinfectant.
  • Water containers in the transporters not cleaned properly

Paramyxovirus can be simply spread by,

Controlling and preventing paramyxovirus

infection in your Racing pigeons

  • Using a licenced authorised Paramxyo vaccine
  • Good husbandry in cleaning your pigeon lofts

Paramyxovirus Advice.

from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) UK and the Department of Agriculture in Ireland.

https://www.rpra.org/advice-on-vaccinating-against-paramyxovirus/

Authorised Paramyxovirus PMV vaccines should only used 

IRISH HOMING PIGEON UNION VACCINATION CODE OF PRACTICE  

https://www.ihu.ie/vaccination  

The only paramyxovirus vaccine authorised for use in the Republic of Ireland at present is Colombovac-PMV, manufactured by Zoetis

Racing Pigeon Colombovac PMV paramyxo

Racing pigeons - All adult birds in the loft should be given a single booster vaccination annually. Where the annual booster vaccination may interfere with the training or racing programme, it may be brought forward prior to the commencement of each racing season.

Contra-indications, warnings, etc

FOR ANIMAL TREATMENT ONLY

Do not use in unhealthy pigeons.

Do not vaccinate during the last 2 weeks prior to mating.

Do not use in birds in lay or within 4 weeks before the onset of the laying period.

Vaccination is safe in breeding birds provided they are vaccinated before the start of breeding.

No information is available on the safety and efficacy from the concurrent use of this vaccine with any other. It is therefore recommended that no other vaccines should be administered within 14 days before or after vaccination with this product.

Do not mix with any other vaccine or immunological product.

Adverse Reactions:

Less than 1% of pigeons show adverse reactions in the form of a small transient swelling at the site of injection.

An overdose may result in an increase of the degree of local reactions.

If you notice any serious effects or other effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please inform your veterinary surgeon.

In case of accidental self-injection, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician.

Withdrawal period: Zero days.

Pharmaceutical precautions

Store and transport refrigerated (2°C to 8°C). Do not freeze. Protect from light.

Keep out of the reach and sight of children.

Use entire contents of vial once opened.

Do not use after the expiry date stated on the label. Suspension for injection for active immunisation of pigeons to reduce mortality and clinical signs due to infection with paramyxovirus serotype 1 infection. The onset of protection occurs one month after inoculation. The duration of protection is 12 months. Legal Category

1 NAME OF THE VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCT Colombovac PMV 2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION Per 0.2 ml dose Active substance: Inactivated Newcastle Disease Virus, strain La Sota at least 19.9AU*  * AU: Antigen Unit Adjuvant(s): Carbomer 934 P1 mg Excipient(s): Thiomersal 20 µg For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1. 3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM Suspension for injection 4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS 4.1 Target Species Pigeons. 4.2 Indications for use, specifying the target species For active immunisation of pigeons to reduce mortality and clinical signs due to paramyxovirus type 1 infection. Onset of immunity one month after inoculation. Duration of immunity12 months. 4.3 Contraindications Do not use in unhealthy pigeons. Do not vaccinate during the last 2 weeks prior to mating. 4.4 Special warnings for each target species Not for intramuscular injection: Intramuscular injection causes severe adverse reactions. Health Products Regulatory Authority 11 October 2017 CRN000TYW Page 2 of 5 Maternally derived antibody (MDA) can interfere with the development of active immunity. Where it is likely that recent field infection or vaccination of the parent flock has stimulated a high antibody titre and consequently a high level of MDA, the timing of the vaccination programme should be planned accordingly. 4.5 Special precautions for use Special precautions for use in animals In cases of hypersensitivity reactions treat immediately with glucocorticoid intravenously or adrenaline intramuscularly. The incubation period for pigeon paramyxovirosis may be a few days to several weeks. However, after infection with the wild virus, pigeons excrete the virus from the eye and in the droppings within 3-4 days. This means that infected birds can be a danger to others some days before their own symptoms appear. Excretion of wild virus from the infected bird continues for up to 6 weeks. This information is important since, in addition to direct bird to bird contact at competitions and shows, the disease can be spread by indirect means such as hands, overalls, caps, boots and contaminated objects such as baskets and trucks. An owner should forbid visits to the loft by anyone in contact with unvaccinated pigeons and new birds (either purchased or lent for mating) should not be brought in unless vaccinated at least 14 days previously. Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals In case of accidental self-injection, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician. 4.6 Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness) A transient swelling at the injection site of up to approximately 1 cm in diameter may occur very commonly, which may last up to 4 weeks or more. Swellings normally tend to disappear without treatment. In cases of adverse reactions not disappearing spontaneously the veterinary surgeon should be contacted. The frequency of adverse reactions is defined using the following convention: - very common (more than 1 in 10 animals displaying adverse reactions during the course of one treatment) - common (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 100 animals) - uncommon (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 1,000 animals) - rare (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 10,000 animals) - very rare (less than 1 animal in 10,000 animals, including isolated reports). Health Products Regulatory Authority 11 October 2017 CRN000TYW Page 3 of 5 4.7 Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay Do not use in birds in lay or within 4 weeks before the onset of the laying period. Vaccination is safe in breeding birds provided they are vaccinated before the start of breeding. 4.8 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction No information is available on the safety and efficacy of this vaccine when used with any other veterinary medicinal product. A decision to use this vaccine before or after any other veterinary medicinal product therefore needs to be made on a case-by-case basis. 4.9 Amounts to be administered and administration route Dose: One dose (0.2ml) per pigeon. Administration: The vial must be swirled several times before use. The vaccine must be administered by subcutaneous injection dorsally in the neck region (in the direction of the back). Primary vaccination: Racing pigeons All birds in the loft should be given one vaccination annually not less than 14 days before the beginning of the racing season.  Young birds may be vaccinated with Colombovac®PMV from 3 weeks of age when a single injection will provide immunity for 1 year. Following vaccination avoid contact with birds from other lofts for at least 14 days. Show Pigeons All birds on the premises should be given one vaccination annually not less than 14 days before the beginning of the show season.  Young birds may be vaccinated with Colombovac®PMV from 3 weeks of age when a single injection will provide immunity for 1 year. Following vaccination, avoid contact with birds from other sources for at least 14 days. Booster vaccination: Racing pigeons All adult birds in the loft should be given a single booster vaccination annually. Where the annual booster vaccination may interfere with the training or racing programme, it may be brought forward prior to the commencement of each racing season. Show Pigeons All adult birds on the premises should be given a single booster vaccination annually. Health Products Regulatory Authority 11 October 2017 CRN000TYW Page 4 of 5 4.10 Overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary, an overdose may result in an increase of the degree of local reactions. 4.11 Withdrawal period(s) Zero days. 5 PHARMACOLOGICAL or IMMUNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES To stimulate active immunity against Paramyxovirus infection type 1. ATC Vet code: QI01EA01 6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS 6.1 List of excipients Thiomersal Carbomer 943 P Disodium phosphate dihydrate Sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate Water for injection 6.2 Incompatibilities Do not mix with any other veterinary medicinal product. 6.3 Shelf-life Shelf life as packaged for sale: 18 months Shelf life after first opening the immediate packaging: use immediately 6.4 Special precautions for storage Store and transport refrigerated (2°C - 8°C). Protect from light. Do not freeze. 6.5 Nature and composition of immediate packaging Nature: 20ml, Type hydrolytic I glass vial (Ph.Eur.) Closure: Butyl rubber stopper (Ph.Eur.), sealed by 20mm aluminium “tear-off” cap Contents: Either 1 x 50 doses (10ml) or 1 x 100 doses (20ml) Colombovac®PMV. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

 1. Home (https://www.gov.uk/) 2. Environment (https://www.gov.uk/environment) 3. Food and farming (https://www.gov.uk/environment/food-and-farming) Guidance Paramyxovirus infection: how to spot and report the disease How to spot paramyxovirus infection in pigeons, what to do if you suspect it and measures to prevent its spread. From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (/government/organisations/department-for environment-food-rural-affairs) and Animal and Plant Health Agency (/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency) Published 26 August 2014 Last updated 18 October 2018 — Applies to England, Scotland and Wales Contents Accept additional cookies Reject additional cookies GOV.UK Coronavirus (COVID-19) (/coronavirus) Latest updates and guidance 27/12/2021, 09:22 Paramyxovirus infection: how to spot and report the disease - GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/guidance/paramyxovirus-infection 2/4 How to spot pigeon paramyxovirus infection How paramyxovirus is spread Preventing and controlling paramyxovirus infection in pigeons Legislation on paramyxovirus Pigeon paramyxovirus (PPMV) usually affects pigeons. It doesn’t normally affect humans. The disease is currently present in Great Britain. Pigeon paramyxovirus infection is a notifiable animal disease (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/notifiable-diseases-in-animals). If you suspect it you must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301. In Wales, contact 0300 303 8268. In Scotland, contact your local Field Services Office (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency/about/access-andopening#scotland-field-service-offices). Failure to do so is an offence. How to spot pigeon paramyxovirus infection Signs of paramyxovirus infection in pigeons may include: nervous signs, including trembling wings and heads, and twisting of the neck partial paralysis of wings and legs (birds may fall over on landing and be unable to feed) unusually wet and liquidy faeces (diarrhoea) that are often greenish in colour quietness, loss of appetite and reluctance to move The disease is very contagious so it is common for most of the pigeons sharing a loft to display clinical signs at the same time. How paramyxovirus is spread the disease is spread by direct contact between pigeons and through pigeon transporters that have not been cleaned and disinfected drinking water in lofts and transporters pigeon fanciers carrying infection on their clothes, hands, and feet The disease can be introduced to a loft of kept pigeons through contact with wild pigeons. The disease can be spread to chickens if, for example, their feed is infected with the faeces of infected pigeons. In chicken's paramyxovirus can cause Newcastle disease (https://www.gov.uk/newcastle-disease). Preventing and controlling paramyxovirus infection in pigeons You can help prevent the disease by: 27/12/2021, 09:22 Paramyxovirus infection: how to spot and report the disease - GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/guidance/paramyxovirus-infection 3/4 vaccinating your pigeons against the disease - talk to your vet for advice (if you run pigeons shows or races, you must ensure any bird taking part has been vaccinated)

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