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 species. Our project will investigate the viral diversity among pigeons across urban and rural environments in Thailand. The findings will provide critical insights into the diversity, abundance, 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?

Emerging infectious diseases in humans are often caused by zoonotic pathogens—diseases that spread from animals to humans. About 60–75% of these diseases are zoonotic. Pigeons, highly adaptable wildlife living in human environments, have been linked to several viruses, including West Nile virus, avian influenza H5N1, coronavirus, rotavirus, and paramyxovirus, which can be pathogenic to both humans and animals. Understanding the viral diversity in pigeons is critical due to their proximity to humans and other animal species, heightening the risk of disease transmission. This project aligns with the "One Health" perspective, which recognises that the health of animals, humans, and the environment is linked together. Our project could help identify and characterise known and unexplored viruses and benefit human and animal health if the disease is found. We aim to contribute to strategies for managing and preventing emerging and zoonotic outbreaks in urban and rural areas.

What is the significance of this project?

Wild urban pigeons are widespread, often living in close proximity to humans and animals. Previous studies show that some viruses, such as West Nile virus, avian influenza virus, coronavirus, rotavirus, and paramyxovirus, can be excreted in their cloacal swabs or droppings, posing potential human and animal health risks. By characterising the viral diversity harboured by pigeon droppings, we could determine known and unexplored viruses with zoonotic potential and assess the risk they pose to human and animal health. Understanding virus diversity, abundance, and evolution in pigeons is the first step in preventing further spread to other animals and could inform public health policies to mitigate disease emergence risks, especially in densely populated areas. Ultimately, our findings could improve early detection, risk assessment, and response strategies for emerging zoonotic diseases, helping to protect human and animal health.

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. 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 confirmatory testing.