About This Project

Wild urban pigeon droppings harbour not only bacterial and fungal pathogens but also diverse viruses that are potentially pathogenic to humans, domestic animals, and other wildlife. Our project will investigate the diversity of viruses in pigeons across urban and rural environments in Thailand. The findings will provide insights into the diversity and evolution of viruses present in wild urban pigeons and benefit human and animal health if the disease is found.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Approximately 60–75% of emerging infectious diseases in humans are caused by zoonotic pathogens (i.e., pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to humans). Pigeons (Columba livia), being wildlife highly adaptable to human-driven environments, have been associated with a number of viruses, including the West Nile virus, avian influenza H5N1 virus, pigeon paramyxovirus type 1, rotavirus, adenovirus, and circovirus, which can be pathogenic in humans and other animals. Understanding the diversity of viruses present in pigeons is significant because these birds often coexist closely with humans and other animals, heightening the risk of disease transmission. Our project could help identify potential emerging threats and assess the risks they pose to human and animal health. We aim to contribute to the development of effective public health strategies for managing and preventing emerging and zoonotic infectious disease outbreaks in urban and rural areas.

What is the significance of this project?

Wild urban pigeons are ubiquitous worldwide, including in Thailand, often coexisting close to humans and other animals. Previous studies have shown that some viruses can be excreted in cloacal swabs or faeces, such as the West Nile virus, avian influenza virus, rotavirus, adenovirus, and paramyxovirus. By characterising the viral community harboured by pigeon droppings, we could determine known and novel viruses with zoonotic potential and assess the risk they pose to human and animal health. Obtaining this information will give us a detailed understanding of the diversity and evolution of viruses within wild urban pigeons and could inform public health policies and interventions aimed at mitigating the risk of infectious disease outbreaks in densely populated areas. Ultimately, this project has the potential to enhance our ability to detect and respond to emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases, thereby safeguarding human and animal health, as well as well-being.

What are the goals of the project?

We plan to collect samples from wild urban pigeons across different locations in Thailand, including high-density urban centres, rural areas, and sites with human interaction. Sample collection will involve systematically collecting fresh pigeon droppings from public spaces such as parks, markets, temples, and transportation hubs. Samples will be collected using sterile tools, placed in viral transport media, and stored under cold conditions for transport to the laboratory. Each sample will be geotagged, and metadata on sample volume, sampling sites, and collection date will be recorded. We plan to collect at least 385 samples across all sites. In order to identify known and novel viruses, we will use metagenomics, or metatranscriptomics, as the primary approach. Any viruses with potential zoonotic significance will be further characterised using molecular methods.