Characterization of the pathogenicity and replication of type I pigeon adenovirus

Pigeon adenovirus (PiAdV) can cause symptoms such as dyspnea, indigestion, and growth retardation in pigeons. It endangers pigeon health and causes significant economic losses for breeders. However, the replication characteristics and pathogenicity of PiAdV still need to be studied. In this study, we investigated the replication capacity, pathogenicity, transmissibility, and morphogenesis in liver tissue of a type I PiAdV strain isolated from a pigeon in Shanxi, China. Results revealed that PiAdV infection led to weight loss and 100% mortality in infected pigeons. PiAdV is transmissible among pigeons via indirect contact. The liver is an important organ for virus replication and has significant pathological damage. Viral progressively assemble into mature virions within hepatocytes, forming honeycomb-like viral factories in the nuclei. The above findings indicate that type I PiAdV exhibits pathogenicity and transmissibility, highlighting the need to accelerate the development of vaccines and antiviral drugs to control its spread and prevalence.