STUDIES ON REACTIVATION AND TRANSMISSION OF PIGEON HERPES-VIRUS (PHV)FOR RAISING PHV-FREE PIGEONS (COLUMBA-LIVIA DOM.)

For raising pigeons free of herpes virus infection, 12 parental pigeon s were monitored for shedding of pigeon herpes virus (PHV) during 18 w eeks of reproduction. In most of the birds only a sporadic virus excre tion, which was never associated with clinical signs could be observed . However, three out of seven squabs raised by their parents became in fected during the first 3 weeks of life and all seven became PHV serop ositive within 4 months. Therefore, we raised seven squabs hatched in an incubator by hand using heat-inactivated crop milk. By this method we were able to obtain pigeons free of PHV infection, i.e. no virus co uld be isolated during the first 5 weeks of life and they remained ser onegative during an observation period of 8 months. These animals have been assigned to breed a live-stock of PHV-free pigeons, necessary fo r studies on the pathogenesis of PHV and other pathogens.