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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MENINGOPNEUMONITIS VIRUS, PSITTACOSIS OF PIGEON ORIGIN, AND PSITTACOSIS OF PARROT ORIGIN

H Pinkerton1, V Moragues

  • 1Department of Pathology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis.

The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
PubMed

Insights

This study reveals that viruses from thiamin-deficient pigeons are likely modified strains of psittacosis, showing distinct pathogenicity patterns in pigeons and mice. These findings are crucial for understanding atypical pneumonia and psittacosis virus evolution.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Comparative Pathology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Psittacosis, caused by Chlamydia psittaci, is a significant zoonotic disease.
  • Previous research has identified various strains of psittacosis viruses with differing host specificities.
  • The relationship between avian-derived viruses and human atypical pneumonia agents requires further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the biological and morphological relationship between meningopneumonitis virus and viruses from thiamin-deficient pigeons.
  • To compare the pathogenicity of different psittacosis virus strains in avian and murine models.
  • To explore the potential link between avian psittacosis strains and human atypical pneumonia.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative morphological, histological, and biological analyses of viral isolates.
  • Intracranial and intraperitoneal injections of viruses into pigeons and mice.
  • Isolation of viruses from human sputum and avian sources.

Main Results:

  • Viruses from thiamin-deficient pigeons are morphologically identical to psittacosis and likely represent biologically modified strains.
  • These pigeon-derived viruses exhibit increased pathogenicity in pigeons via intracranial injection compared to typical psittacosis.
  • Hepatic necrosis is not consistently produced in mice by these strains after intraperitoneal injection, unlike typical psittacosis.

Conclusions:

  • The meningopneumonitis virus and viruses from thiamin-deficient pigeons are closely related to psittacosis, likely modified strains.
  • Avian-origin psittacosis viruses can exhibit altered pathogenicity profiles.
  • Intracranial inoculation in mice or pigeons may be essential for isolating certain psittacosis strains from human samples.

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