Fatal Human Neurologic Infection Caused by Pigeon Avian Paramyxovirus-1, Australia
Siobhan Hurley, John‐Sebastian Eden, John Bingham, Michael Rodriguez, Matthew J. Neave, Alexandra Johnson, Annaleise R. Howard‐Jones, Jen Kok, Antoinette Anazodo, Brendan McMullan, David T. Williams, James Watson, Annalisa Solinas, Ki Wook Kim, William D. Rawlinson
Abstract
Avian paramyxovirus type 1 (APMV-1) is a virus of birds that results in a range of outcomes, from asymptomatic infections to outbreaks of systemic respiratory and neurologic disease, depending on the virus strain and the avian species affected. Humans are rarely affected; those who are predominantly experience mild conjunctivitis. We report a fatal case of neurologic disease in a 2-year-old immunocompromised child in Australia. Metagenomic sequencing and histopathology identified the causative agent as the pigeon variant of APMV-1. This diagnosis should be considered in neurologic conditions of undefined etiologies. Agnostic metagenomic sequencing methods are useful in such settings to direct diagnostic and therapeutic efforts.