Survey of Beak and Feather Disease Virus (BFDV) in Guatemalan Neotropical Psittacine Birds.

Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV), a circovirus, is the etiologic agent of psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), a progressive and often fatal disease in Psittaciformes. Even though neotropical psittacine species are more resistant to clinical infection than Old World species, BFDV is recognized as a threat to immunologically naïve wild psittacine flocks and its epidemiologic control is paramount for conservation efforts in Neotropical species. Samples were collected from multiple psittacine species, including Ara species, Amazona species, and the white-crowned parrot (Pionus senilis) from the only rescue center in Guatemala with formal psittacine rehabilitation and reintroduction programs. A total of 117 birds, with 101 adults and 16 juveniles of unknown sex, were tested for BFDV by means of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The BFDV prevalence found in this study was 0%, (95% confidence interval, 0%-6.0%). Seven 2-8-year-old scarlet macaws (Ara macao cyanoptera) with positive results from previous surveys by conventional PCR yielded negative results in this study, suggesting complete infection resolution.

First report of psittacine beak and feather disease in importedbudgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) chicks in Mexico

This case reports an outbreak of psittacine beak and feather disease in imported budgerigars (Melopsittacusundulatus) in a breeding site in Mexico. Feather abnormalities occurred in 3-month-old budgerigars and the percentage of affected birds was 40 of 100 birds (40%). The disease begins with varying degrees of bare skin on the back, the ventral region of the body, and the thoracic and pelvic regions without clinical signs or mortality offspring. Thirty-tree budgerigars were referred to the laboratory for diagnostics work-up. The hemogram showed different stages of inflammation in all studied birds, where 66% had relative erythrocytosis, leukocytosis due to heterophilia and monocytosis associated with chronic inflammation. The biochemical analysis showed mainly hypoproteinemia and hypouricemia in 5/8 and 4/9 birds, respectively. The absence of feathers with some tiny calamus of the pectoral region was the most significant feature and no other significant pathologic changes were observed. Histopathologic findings were apoptosis and a moderate amount of spherical intracytoplasmic basophilic inclusion bodies in clusters in some epithelial cells of feather follicles (12/14 sections examined) and bursa of Fabricius (8/10 sections examined). End-point PCR of bursa of Fabricius, genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, confirmed circovirus identification of the psittacine beak and feather disease virus species and belonging to the group 2 previously found in budgerigars. This is the first description of the psittacine beak and feather disease in budgerigars in Mexico showing the need of monitoring health status of companion and free-ranging endemic and endangered psittacine birds in Mexico in order to collaborate with the trade regulation of these bird species.

First report of psittacine beak and feather disease in importedbudgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) chicks in Mexico

This case reports an outbreak of psittacine beak and feather disease in imported budgerigars (Melopsittacusundulatus) in a breeding site in Mexico. Feather abnormalities occurred in 3-month-old budgerigars and the percentage of affected birds was 40 of 100 birds (40%). The disease begins with varying degrees of bare skin on the back, the ventral region of the body, and the thoracic and pelvic regions without clinical signs or mortality offspring. Thirty-tree budgerigars were referred to the laboratory for diagnostics work-up. The hemogram showed different stages of inflammation in all studied birds, where 66% had relative erythrocytosis, leukocytosis due to heterophilia and monocytosis associated with chronic inflammation. The biochemical analysis showed mainly hypoproteinemia and hypouricemia in 5/8 and 4/9 birds, respectively. The absence of feathers with some tiny calamus of the pectoral region was the most significant feature and no other significant pathologic changes were observed. Histopathologic findings were apoptosis and a moderate amount of spherical intracytoplasmic basophilic inclusion bodies in clusters in some epithelial cells of feather follicles (12/14 sections examined) and bursa of Fabricius (8/10 sections examined). End-point PCR of bursa of Fabricius, genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, confirmed circovirus identification of the psittacine beak and feather disease virus species and belonging to the group 2 previously found in budgerigars. This is the first description of the psittacine beak and feather disease in budgerigars in Mexico showing the need of monitoring health status of companion and free-ranging endemic and endangered psittacine birds in Mexico in order to collaborate with the trade regulation of these bird species.(AU)

Molecular Diagnosis of Beak and Feather Disease in Native Brazilian Psittacines

The incidence of the psittacine beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) was investigated in Brazilian native parrots with normal feathering arriving at rescue and triage centers for wild animals (CETAS, IBAMA) in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. BFDV DNA was investigated by previously described PCR technique for the partial amplification of BFDV ORF-1 in DNA extracts from blood, cloacal swab or liver of psittacines. Some birds provided more than one sample. Nine species of psittacines were sampled between January 2009 and October 2010. Blood (n=46) or cloacal swab (n=128) samples were obtained from psittacines immediately upon arrival at the triage centers. Liver samples were collected from necropsied birds dead on arrival (n=167). All swab samples were negative, except for one Ara ararauna individual (n=3) which blood presented the BFDV DNA. On the other hand, 11 liver samples were positive for BFDV DNA, with a prevalence of 7.8% in Amazona aestiva (n=140). No BFDV DNA was detected in the liver of Amazona amazonica (n=11), A. vinacea (n=5), A. rhodochorytha (n=4), Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus (n=3), Ara ararauna, (n=3), Aratinga leucophtalma (n=2), Guarouba guarouba (n=1) and Pionus maximiliani (n=1). In most cases, alopecia was not associated with BFDV detection in liver, and liver histopathology was inconclusive. Although all cloacal swab samples were negative, a few psittacines (n=19) that died at CETAS-Belo Horizonte were retested, and 21% were detected as positive in liver. A group of psittacines (n=16) was clinically evaluated, and despite showing feather dystrophy, all birds were negative in the cloacal swabs, except for one, which blood sample was positive (A. ararauna). The obtained sequences of the BFDV strains BH 215 and BH 732 were deposited in the GenBank (JQ649409 and JQ649410). A 98% similarity with strain sequences described in Australia, Japan, and New Zealand was observed. It is possible that these strains arrived in Brazil through the legal and illegal trade of parrots. However, it was not possible to associate BFDV infection with the geographical origin of birds and no local marker was detected. The rates of detection, although similar to other studies, indicate the tendency of a high incidence of the disease, possibly associated with stress, and high bird density and wide transmission in captivity conditions.(AU)

Molecular Diagnosis of Beak and Feather Disease in Native Brazilian Psittacines

The incidence of the psittacine beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) was investigated in Brazilian native parrots with normal feathering arriving at rescue and triage centers for wild animals (CETAS, IBAMA) in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. BFDV DNA was investigated by previously described PCR technique for the partial amplification of BFDV ORF-1 in DNA extracts from blood, cloacal swab or liver of psittacines. Some birds provided more than one sample. Nine species of psittacines were sampled between January 2009 and October 2010. Blood (n=46) or cloacal swab (n=128) samples were obtained from psittacines immediately upon arrival at the triage centers. Liver samples were collected from necropsied birds dead on arrival (n=167). All swab samples were negative, except for one Ara ararauna individual (n=3) which blood presented the BFDV DNA. On the other hand, 11 liver samples were positive for BFDV DNA, with a prevalence of 7.8% in Amazona aestiva (n=140). No BFDV DNA was detected in the liver of Amazona amazonica (n=11), A. vinacea (n=5), A. rhodochorytha (n=4), Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus (n=3), Ara ararauna, (n=3), Aratinga leucophtalma (n=2), Guarouba guarouba (n=1) and Pionus maximiliani (n=1). In most cases, alopecia was not associated with BFDV detection in liver, and liver histopathology was inconclusive. Although all cloacal swab samples were negative, a few psittacines (n=19) that died at CETAS-Belo Horizonte were retested, and 21% were detected as positive in liver. A group of psittacines (n=16) was clinically evaluated, and despite showing feather dystrophy, all birds were negative in the cloacal swabs, except for one, which blood sample was positive (A. ararauna). The obtained sequences of the BFDV strains BH 215 and BH 732 were deposited in the GenBank (JQ649409 and JQ649410). A 98% similarity with strain sequences described in Australia, Japan, and New Zealand was observed. It is possible that these strains arrived in Brazil through the legal and illegal trade of parrots. However, it was not possible to associate BFDV infection with the geographical origin of birds and no local marker was detected. The rates of detection, although similar to other studies, indicate the tendency of a high incidence of the disease, possibly associated with stress, and high bird density and wide transmission in captivity conditions.