Isolation and Characterization of Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease Virus in Saudi Arabia Using Molecular Technique

Abstract

Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) is a contagious, fatal viral disease that affects the beak, feathers, and immune system of wild and captive old and New World Psittacine. PBFD is characterized by feather abnormalities, beak and claw deformities and eventually dying as a result of immunosuppressant. The disease is caused by member of the genus circovirus in the family Circoviridae. The disease diagnosed by clinical signs and laboratory detections. The serological diagnosis by haemagglutination (HA) and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) is subjective but molecular technique using Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most reliable means for confirming the presence of the PBFDV ambience DNA genome in whole blood or tissue samples. Many birds were presented to the veterinary clinic with clinical signs of PBFD. No reports document the presence of PBFDV in KSA to date. Therefore, the objective of this work was to investigate the presence of PBFDV in KSA using PCR. Total 175 samples (blood and feathers) from clinically-suspect, and apparently-health birds from 10 different psittacine species were collected, DNA was extracted and conventional PCR was performed. The viral DNA was identified in six samples (6/175) four Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus), and two ring necks (Psittacula eupatria eupatria). PBFDV was identified for the first time in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). During this investigation, we developed a technique for faster and simpler processing of multiple feather samples. The isolated PBFDV could be characterize and use as positive control for further research purpose. We recommend that the Rep gene feather-based PCR technique be established as a routine diagnostic tool in quarantine facilities across the country.

Investigation and sequence analysis of avian polyomavirus and psittacine beak and feather disease virus from companion birds in eastern Turkey

“…In a study conducted in Turkey, APV (14.5% overall detection rate in M. undulatus , P. erithacus , and Psephotus haematonotus ) and PBFDV (19.3% overall detection rate in M. undulatus and P. erithacus ) nucleic acids were detected in feather samples taken from clinically sick birds ( 1 ). In the current study, the APV rate (48.7%) was found to be considerably higher than in other reported studies ( 2 , 6 , 17 ), whereas the PBFDV rate (23.0%) was only slightly different. This finding indicates that APV has wide dissemination in asymptomatic M. undulatus and N. hollandicus individuals around eastern Turkey.…”

Molecular Identification of Fungal Pathogens causing Feather Infection in Parrots Suffering from the Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) Virus

“…All Psittacine species are susceptible to the infectious and frequently fatal Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD), which has been identified in both wild and captive parrot populations (Alaudeen et al 2017). The definitive identification of the etiologic agents of skin disease in companion birds has a significant role in health and immunology, however, there are insufficient studies of the normal skin and feather flora of these species (Rubinstein and Lightfoot 2014).…”