Pigeon herpesvirus infection (Pigeon herpesvirus 1): A review

peer reviewedPigeon herpesvirus 1 (PHV 1) shares the main characteristics of other herpetoviridae. After a primary infection, infected pigeons become asymptomatic carriers and may reexcrete virus from time to time, especially with the help of debilitating factors. Chemotherapeutic assays with phosphonoformate, a newly discovered anti-herpetic drug, failed to cure clinical disease and to prevent the appearance of asymptomatic carriers. Vaccination trials with attenuated or inactivated vaccines help to control viral dissemination but do not prevent the appearance of carriers and therefore, is not the definite answer for the control of PHV 1-infection