Evolution of Pigeon Paramyxovirus Type 1 (PPMV‐1) in Great Britain: A Molecular Epidemiological Study

Newcastle disease (ND), caused by virulent strains of avian paramyxovirus type 1 (APMV‐1), is considered throughout the world as one of the most important animal diseases. For over three decades now, there has been a continuing panzootic caused by a variant virulent APMV‐1 strain, so‐called pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 (PPMV‐1), primarily in racing pigeons, which has also spread to wild birds and poultry. PPMV‐1 isolations have been made in Great Britain every year since 1983. In this study, we have completed a comparative phylogenetic analysis based on a 374 nucleotide section of the fusion protein gene of 63 isolates of PPMV‐1 that were isolated over a 26‐year period; 43 of these were sequenced for this study. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences revealed that all were closely related and placed in the genetic sublineage 4b (VIb), subdivision 4biif.