Health guide
More viral infections
Herpesvirus, circovirus, rotavirus and other viruses can cause digestive, respiratory, immune or systemic disease in pigeons, especially young or stressed birds.
How to recognise it
- Sudden lethargy, appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss or unexpected deaths.
- Some viruses cause mouth or respiratory lesions; circovirus may suppress immunity and permit secondary infections.
- The same signs occur with bacteria, parasites, toxins and feeding problems.
Usual treatment approach
- Diagnosis may require PCR and other laboratory testing; isolate suspected cases while results are pending.
- Most have no specific cure, so treatment centres on fluids, nutrition, temperature support and control of secondary disease.
- Biosecurity, quarantine and vaccination where a pigeon-specific vaccine exists (Colombovac, Hipraviar AP) are crucial for prevention.
Sources and further reading