Detection of beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) and avian polyomavirus (APV) DNA in psittacine birds in Italy.

Beak and feather disease (psittacine circovirus) and Budgerigar fledgling disease (avian polyomavirus) are viral diseases that can frequently affect captive psittacine birds. We designed the first survey to investigate the presence of beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) and Avian polyomavirus (APV) inside the population of captive psittacine birds in Italy. Samples were collected in 18 Italian psittacine breeding centres and four trade centres over a 4-year period. A total of 1516 birds were tested for BFDV and 877 birds were tested for APV by means of a polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) assay. BFDV was found in 122 (8.05%) and APV in 7 (0.79%) birds. No significant difference in infection rate was found between imported and locally raised parrots. We report the first BFDV DNA isolation in wild birds imported to Italy from Papua New Guinea.

Isolation of Acremonium sclerotigenum from an ostrich's egg.

An Acremonium sp. was isolated from an unhatched ostrich's egg. The inside of the egg showed the presence of black spots around the air cell and a creamy material. According to its microscopic features, the isolate was identified as Acremonium sclerotigenum .

Occurrence of cutaneous haemangiomas in chickens: Morphological aspects.

The occurrence of cutaneous haemangiomas in chickens is described. Macroscopi-cally these lesions appeared as a marked redness of the skin, affecting in particular the pericloacal area. Histologically, they resembled capillary haemangiomas, characterized by the proliferation of newly-formed blood vessels. The proliferating cells were of endothelial origin, as demonstrated by ultrastructural observations and by the positivity of the proliferating cells to staining with specific markers (lectins and anti factor VIII-related antigen antibodies).

Spontaneous toxoplasmosis in canaries (Serinus canaria) and other small passerine cage birds.

An outbreak of spontaneous Toxoplasma gondii infection on an Italian bird-farm is described. Small passerine birds (Serinus canaria, Carduelis chloris, Carduelis carduelis, Carduelis spinus, Carduelis cannabina, Pyrrhula pyrrhula) showed clinical signs consisting of anorexia, prostration, weight loss, diarrhoea and dyspnoea accompanied by a high mortality rate. Clinical, pathological, biological and serological investigations were performed. Characteristic lesions and Toxoplasma gondii specimens were identified in several tissues by histopathological examinations. The detection of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii was constant in dead and sacrificed animals with macroscopic lesions. A therapy based on the administration of sulphadimethoxine and diaveridine was successful in limiting the mortality rate. Four months later some surviving birds developed ocular atrophy. Toxoplasma gondii cysts were observed in the brain and cerebral and ocular lesions described. Sera obtained from these animals were positive (>1:64) for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii. The authors conclude with some observations on the spread of toxoplasmosis among cage birds.