Prevalence of Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease Virus and Avian Polyomavirus in Captivity Psittacines from Costa Rica

Abstract

Psittacine beak and feather disease virus (PBFDV) and avian polyomavirus (APV) are the most common viral diseases in psittacine birds, both affecting feathers and physical appearance of birds. Between 2005 and 2009, a total of 269 samples were collected from birds presented at veterinary clinics, shelters and rescue centers of wildlife in Costa Rica. They belonged to 19 species of psittacine birds. The most representative species in the sample were Ara macao (157), Ara ambigua (37), Amazona autumnalis (24), Amazon ochrocephala (21) and Ara ararauna (8). A prevalence of 19.7% (53/269) for PBFDV and 4.8% (13/269) for APV was determined using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). In 3.3% (9/269) of the birds mixed infections were detected. Statistical analysis determined that psittacines living in shelters and rescue centers had a greater risk to be positive to PBFDV and APV than birds that were presented at veterinary clinics, while only for PBFDV it was determined, that it is more likely to detect it in feathers than in blood. Finally, birds infected with PBFDV had 6.24 times more probability to become infected with APV, than non-infected birds. This is the first report of prevalence of PBFDV and APV in captive psittacines from Costa Rica.

Beak and feather disease virus in wild and captive parrots: an analysis of geographic and taxonomic distribution and methodological trends

“…Equally, with high levels of parrot endemicity in South and Central America, it is surprising that no studies have been published on BFDV or PBFD incidence in wild populations. Only two studies have been conducted on captive individuals originating from these geographical regions: one from Costa Rica [ 59 ] and another that included specimens of Guyanese origin [ 58 ]. Whilst one study from Brazil did not specify whether the individuals studied were of captive or wild origin and were therefore not included in Fig.…”

First detection and molecular characterization of avian polyomavirus in young parrots in Pakistan

“…The Avian Polyomavirus is a highly infectious psittacine virus, reaching almost 100% infection rates in indoor aviaries (Philadelpho et al 2015). The disease has been described in USA (Dolz et al 2013;Varsani et al 2015), Europe (Johne et al 2006), South Africa (Tajbhai et al 2004), Asia (Ogawa et al 2006;Zhuang et al 2012), New Zealand (Tajbhai et al 2004) and Australia (Hulbert et al 2015).…”

“…Lane M: 100-bp DNA ladder, Lane N: Negative control similar feather disorders and cannot be differentiated by clinical diagnosis. PCR is used as a highly sensitive method, capable of detecting specific DNA sequences in various biological samples and has been used extensively in the diagnosis as well as confirmation of APV and PBFDV infection (Altan et al 2016;Dolz et al 2013;Ogawa et al 2005). Ogawa et al (2005) used duplex shuttle PCR for the differential diagnosis of APV and PBFDV in psittacine birds.…”

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

“…The clinical signs of the disease are generally feather losses, paleness, loss of appetite, and subcutaneous bleeding ( 7 ). In addition, embryo deaths happen via germinal transmission during the hatching period ( 4 , 10 , 18 ).…”