Psittacosis virus for birds

 Psittacosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci, not a virus. In birds, the condition is commonly referred to as avian chlamydiosis or "parrot fever". 

Symptoms in Birds

Infected birds may show a variety of signs, though some remain asymptomatic carriers and only shed the bacteria during times of stress (e.g., shipping, overcrowding, or breeding).

• Respiratory: Nasal or ocular discharge, swollen eyes, sneezing, and labored breathing.
• Digestive: Lime-green or yellow-green diarrhea/droppings and poor appetite.
• General: Ruffled feathers, lethargy, weight loss, and depression.
• Severe Cases: Sudden death or neurological signs like trembling and seizures.

Transmission

The bacteria are highly contagious among birds and spread through:

• Inhalation: Breathing in dust from dried droppings, feathers, or respiratory secretions.
• Direct Contact: Beak-to-beak contact or contaminated food and water.
• Other Routes: It can be passed vertically from parent birds to chicks or eggs and, rarely, through blood-sucking insects like mites.

Diagnosis and Treatment

• Diagnosis: Veterinarians use blood tests (measuring antibodies), X-rays to check for an enlarged liver or spleen, and PCR assays on fecal or respiratory swabs.
• Treatment: The primary treatment is a 45-day course of Doxycycline. Shorter treatments may be ineffective because the bacteria can remain dormant and reactivate later.
• Prevention: Isolate new birds for at least 30 days, maintain clean cages, and use disinfectants to wet surfaces before cleaning to prevent dust from becoming airborne. 

Zoonotic Risk to Humans

Humans can contract psittacosis primarily by inhaling contaminated dust. It typically causes a flu-like illness or atypical pneumonia. For more detailed human prevention protocols, refer to the CDC Psittacosis Guidelines. 

 

Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD)

Animal Genetics Inc. offers genetic testing for both type 1 and type 2 Psittacine Circovirus. Animal Genetics also offers Elisa testing to help determine if the bird has developed an immune response to the virus that causes PBFD.

Description:

The virus causing Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) is a member of the Circoviridae family of viruses. The molecular structure of the genome of the virus is a roughly 2,000 base circular, single-stranded DNA. PBFD virus has a strong resemblance to Porcine Circovirus as well as to a number of plant viruses such as the Banana Bungy virus.

The disease is thought to be specific for psittacines and all psittacine species should be considered susceptible. Parrots known to be particularly affected by PBFD include, but are not limited to, Cockatoos, Macaws, African Grey Parrots, Ringneck Parakeets, Eclectus Parrots, and Lovebirds.

PBFD can cause fatal infections, primarily in young birds. Older birds may overcome the disease with few lasting affects. Some believe that these surviving birds become carriers that are able to shed the disease at a later date. Others believe that a percentage of birds are able to eradicate the disease from their system, leaving them with a natural immunity that can be passed on to their offspring.

The virus that causes PBFD can also affect the liver, brain, and immune system causing diminished resistance to infections. Consequently, premature death usually occurs from secondary bacterial, fungal, parasitic, or viral infections.

Transmission:

Transmission of the virus from one individual to another is primarily through direct contact, inhalation, or ingestion of aerosols, crop-feeding, infected fecal material, and/or feather dust. The virus can also be transmitted via contaminated surfaces such as bird carriers, feeding formula, utensils, food dishes, clothing, and nesting materials. If not destroyed, the viral particles can remain viable in the environment for months, long after the infected bird is gone.

Symptoms:

Symptoms include irreversible loss of feathers, shedding of developing feathers, development of abnormal feathers, new pinched feathers, and loss of powder down. Other possible symptoms include overgrown or abnormal beak, as well as symmetrical lesions on the beak and occasionally nails. Immunosuppression, rapid weight loss, and depression are also possible in later stages of the disease.

Secondary viral, fungal, bacterial, or parasitic infections often occur as a result of diminished immunity caused by a PBFD viral infection. Additional symptoms not mentioned above, including elevated white blood cell counts are generally due to secondary infections and may not be directly related to PBFD virus infections.

Diagnosis:

PBFD diagnosis is made by skin biopsy, surgical biopsy of feather and shaft, or PCR testing of blood, swab, and feather samples. Testing for PBFD-specific antibodies can also reveal important information about a possible infection.

PBFD should be considered in any bird suffering from abnormal feather loss or development. A biopsy of the abnormal feathers including the calimus (shaft) of the feather can be examined for signs of virus. However, since the PBFD virus does not affect all feathers simultaneously this method of evaluating a sample may have a high degree of error. Additionally, birds with PBFD can have normal feathers, so PCR testing is the most effective method available for detecting the virus in birds before feather lesions develop.

 

Some birds infected with the virus test positive but never show clinical signs. Other birds which test positive may develop an immune response sufficient enough to fight off the infection and test negative after 30-90 days. Therefore, it is recommended to re-test all PBFD positive birds 60-90 days after the initial testing was completed. If the second sample remains positive, the bird should be considered permanently infected and can be expected to show clinical symptoms of the disease.

Sample Type:

Feather (like Bird DNA Sexing).

Submit a Sample for Testing:

•    DNA tests (feather) can detect the virus.

Avian Polyoma Virus (APV)

Animal Genetics Inc. offers DNA and Elisa testing for Avian Polyoma Virus (APV). APV is considered one of the most threatening infectious diseases for young psittacines and a major threat to nurseries.

Description:

Avian Polyoma Virus (APV), also referred to as Budgerigar Fledgling Disease, is a member of the Papovavirus family. Polyoma virus has a diameter of 40-50 nm, and contains a double-stranded DNA genome of approximately 5,000 basepairs.

This pathogen is considered one of the most significant threats to caged birds around the world. This highly-infectious disease affects most, if not all, parrot species. Polyoma seems to be most problematic among neonates (young birds) between the ages 14-56 days. Young birds often die, while adult birds can develop a certain level of immunity. Polyoma is believed to have an incubation period of approximately two weeks or less.

Transmission:

The disease can spread from one bird to another via feather dust, feces, aerosols, and parental feeding of chicks. APV can also be transmitted via direct contact or contact with infected environments (incubators, nest boxes, etc.).

Birds that are infected but do not have obvious signs of infection are often responsible for spreading the virus to an aviary or bird store.

Adult birds may be carriers of APV, who do not show symptoms but are able to pass the disease to others.

Symptoms:

Symptoms include swollen abdomen, depression, loss of appetite, anorexia, weight loss, delayed crop emptying, regurgitation, diarrhoea, dehydration, feather abnormalities, hemorrhages under the skin, dyspnea, polyuria, ataxia, tremors, paralysis, and acute death.

Many young birds under 12 weeks of age die without any clinical symptoms. Adult birds may die of secondary infection from bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic pathogens.

Prevention:

Isolate all birds shedding the disease. Disinfect all contaminated surfaces with an oxidizer such as chlorine bleach (Polyoma virus is resistant to many disinfectants).

Note: Alcohol does not work as a disinfectant as it is not an oxidizer.

 

A vaccine is available, however this option may cost as much as $40-60 per bird. Additionally, booster shots are required each year and the effectiveness of the vaccine in younger birds is in question.

Quarantine all new birds and use nested primer PCR testing to determine whether or not birds are infected.

Sample Type:

Feather (like Bird DNA Sexing).

Submit a Sample for Testing:

•   DNA tests (feather) can detect the virus.

How does feather DNA-collection work?

Chest feathers are collected by using tweezers to grab a feather at the base, and then plucking it. IMPORTANT: Molted feathers and blood feathers do not contain enough DNA for testing!

How do I Know if my Bird is Male or Female?

  

Bird DNA testing is the easiest and most accurate way to determine whether your bird is male or female. The process is simple: order a DNA-collection kit from us (included in the price of testing) or make your own kit at home, and then send us the samples. Once samples are received, your results are emailed to you within 5 days. We test hundreds of species.

Test Highlights:

Name: Bird DNA Sexing
DNA Samples: Feathers
Cost: Price Varies Depending on Quantity Ordered

Results: Within 5 Days after Receipt of Samples

Bird DNA Sexing for Gender Determination

Avian DNA Gender Determination (bird sexing) is a non-surgical and DNA-powered method used by veterinarians, breeders, and bird owners who cannot determine the gender of their bird by its physical appearance or characteristics.

We use PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) to detect the presence of male and female chromosomes in the bird’s DNA. You can collect a DNA sample by clipping the bird’s toenail (sample is collected onto a blood card), or you can pluck feathers from the bird’s breast.

DNA results are emailed within 5 days, once samples are received at the laboratory. And certificate will be issued.