Vaccination and challenge studies with psittacine beak and feather disease virus

Abstract

Psittacine beak and feather disease virus (PBFDV) was administered to adult galahs (Eolophus roseicapillus) by mouth or by intramuscular injection. Concentration of PBFDV antibodies in serum and excretion of PBFDV were monitored by haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and haemagglutination (HA) respectively. After oral administration, 17 of 18 galahs remained clinically normal and a small rise in antibody titre was detected in 3 of 18 birds. After intramuscular administration, antibody was detected in all birds. PBFDV was not detected in the feather dander of birds in either group. One bird developed diarrhoea and high faecal HA titres within 4 days of oral administration and then died. Adult and nestling cockatoos were vaccinated with an experimental inactivated double-oil emulsion vaccine. PBFDV antibody responses are comparable to those induced by a primary-oil emulsion vaccination regimen using Freund's adjuvants. Both vaccines protected nestlings. Three sibling wild-caught sulphur-crested cockatoos were vaccinated but died of PBFD before experimental challenge despite antibody responses in all birds. Unvaccinated control chicks developed acute PBFD within 4 weeks of challenge, probably from PBFDV-induced hepatitis since high concentrations of PBFDV were detected in their livers.

Assessment of recombinant beak and feather disease virus capsid protein as a vaccine for psittacine beak and feather disease

“…The observation of mild clinical signs and detection of consistent viraemia by PCR The small decline in HI antibody data between days 97 and 270 post BFDV-challenge indicates that anti-BFDV HI antibody persists in immune birds and may well do so for many years. Epidemiological data supports this observation (Raidal et al, 1993b). An annual rate of decline of log 2 0.22 can be calculated from the data, because between these two time points we are confident that antibody titres were not being maintained by ongoing immune stimulation.…”

“…Vaccination against PBFD using inactivated virus purified from the feathers of chronically infected cockatoos has been shown to protect psittacine birds from developing PBFD (Raidal & Cross, 1994;Raidal et al, 1993b). However, the use of beak and feather disease virus (BFDV)-infected feathers or other tissues as a source of antigen is potentially hazardous due to an inability to assess the reliability of BFDV inactivation in vitro.…”

The haemagglutination spectrum of psittacine beak and feather disease virus

“…However, HA and HI testing fails to detect latent or incubating PBFDV infection (Raidal et al, 1993b). For routine diagnosis of incubating PBFDV infection, HA testing could be used in combination with an assay of higher sensitivity such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR).…”

A serologic survey for avian polyomavirus and Pacheco's disease virus in Australian cockatoos

“…Samples were collected from 14 sulphur-crested cockatoo nestlings in Yass. Samples were also collected from six of these birds held in captivity as part of a PsCV vaccination trial which involved two administrations of inactivated PsCV-vaccine and challenge with PsCV as described by Raidal et al (1993a). Each bird was sampled one to three times over a period of 4 months.…”