Evidence for the presence of avian paramyxovirus type 1 in feral pigeons in England and Wales.

During the period July 1983 to June 1985, 76 submissions of material from feral pigeons were received. Five separate submissions resulted in the isolation of an avian paramyxovirus type 1 (A/PMV-1) variant indistinguishable from the virus responsible for the 1058 disease outbreaks confirmed in racing pigeons up to the end of 1984. In addition 11 separate submissions of pigeon sera had haemagglutination inhibition titres of log(2)4 or greater to A/PMV-1 antigen. Feral pigeons from six sites widely distributed throughout England had evidence of A/PMV-1 infection.