A concurrent outbreak of psittacine beak and feather disease virus, and avian polyomavirus infection in budgerigars(Melopsittacus undulatus)

Abstract

A dual natural infection with psittacine beak and feather disease virus and budgerigar fledgling disease virus in a breeding aviary of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) is described. One-hundred per cent of newly-hatched birds were affected and mortality was high (85%). Most surviving birds had diarrhoea, feather alterations and 30% mortality after a 5-to 10-week period. Necropsies of 1-week-old and 2-month-old birds demonstrated non-specific lesions, but histologically nuclear inclusions suggestive of viral infection (adenovirus, herpesvirus, polyomavirus) and also cytoplasmic inclusions suggestive of beak and feather disease were seen in integument and internal organs. Staining of tissues with viral specific DNA probes for psittacine beak and feather disease virus and for avian polyomavirus demonstrated simultaneous presence of viral DNA from both viruses in some birds. This is the first description of a concurrent outbreak of psittacine beak and feather disease virus and avian polyomavirus infection in a breeding aviary.

Primary diagnosis and surveillance of white spot syndrome virus in wild and farmed crawfish (Procambarus clarkii, P. zonangulus) in Louisiana, USA

“…Microscope slides displaying suspect WSSV lesions (from cases in 2007,2006,2005) were selected for ISH processing. An ISH assay was conducted using capillary gap technology with the manual MicroProbe™ work station (Fisher-Scientific), based on published guidelines (Chenggis & Unger 1993, Latimer et al 1997, Ramis et al 1998) with modifications, using a WSSV-specific digoxigenin-labeled probe generated by PCR with Lo's primers (Lo et al 1996) and the Dig DNA labeling mix (Roche Diagnostics) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Briefly, 5 µm paraffin-embedded tissue sections were mounted onto positive-charged silanized slides (ProbeOn Plus ® ; Fisher Scientific), deparaffinized in xylene washes, and rehydrated in graded ethanol solutions.…”

A Case Report of Avian Polyomavirus Infection in a Blue Fronted Parrot (Amazona aestiva) Associated with Anemia

“…Clinical signs for APV are variable, depending on the species and the age. Death without any premonitory signs of the disease is reported in fledglings of various Psittaciformes [8], but abnormal feathers, skin discoloration, and abdominal distension are the most common clinical presentations [5,9]. Other clinical signs include apathy, polyuria, diarrhea, dyspnea, weight loss, hemorrhage, and regurgitation [1,4,5,10].…”

Identification of the Target Cells and Sequence of Infection during Experimental Infection of Ovine Fetuses with Cache Valley Virus

“…A CVV-specific, digoxigenin (DIG)-labeled, single-stranded DNA probe complementary to the negative strand of CVV was generated as previously described (30,35,45). Briefly, RNA was extracted and purified from CVV-infected cell culture fluid using an RNeasy minikit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA).…”