Assessment of Three Diet Types on Constitutive Immune Parameters in Captive Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus).

Proper diet and nutrition are essential for maintaining the health of captive birds, but specific nutritional requirements can vary by species. Our knowledge of avian nutrition is predominantly based on data collected from gallinaceous birds, which is the primary basis for the dietary recommendations for companion birds, such as budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) and other psittacine birds, potentially leading to a higher risk of malnutrition. In the wild, budgerigars eat predominantly Australian grass seed of the Astrebla genus, which may not be similar to the commercially available food fed to captive budgerigars, both in nutrient content and in their physiologic effects. In this study, we examined the relationship between diet type and immune function by separating 36 budgerigars into 3 dietary treatments: 1) Roudybush formulated pellet diet (Roudybush BirdFood Inc, Woodland, CA, USA), 2) Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health seed mix (Kaytee Products Inc, Chilton, WI, USA), and 3) a natural seed diet containing fresh canary grass, flax, nyger, oat groats, and white millet seeds. We monitored body weight, measured the microbial killing ability of whole blood by Escherichia coli and Candida albicans, and collected blood smears to assess white blood cell counts during a period of 8 weeks. Overall, we observed no significant effects of the 3 different diets on bird microbial killing ability or on white blood cell counts, suggesting similar health outcomes for budgerigars that consume mixed seed and those that receive pellet-based diets during this relatively short-term study.

Bright artificial light at night is associated with increased body mass, poor reproductive success and compromised disease tolerance in Australian budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus).

Artificial light at night (ALAN) can cause circadian disruption and result in adverse behavioral and ecological effects in free-living birds, but studies on captive pet birds as companion animals have been infrequent. We studied the effects of exposure to bright ALAN on body mass, melatonin sulfate levels, reproduction and disease severity in Australian budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) kept in captivity. During the experiment, birds were kept under outdoor temperature, humidity and natural photoperiod from September to December. A total of 48 birds were equally split into 4 groups (6 mating pairs each) and concurrently exposed to ALAN of 200 lux with different duration (0, 30, 60 and 90 min). Monthly observations were recorded for all dependent parameters. ALAN exposure increased mass gain and suppressed melatonin levels in a dose-dependent manner, especially during December. In addition, ALAN exposure in all duration groups decreased egg production and reduced hatchability from 61% ± 14% in the ALAN-unexposed control group to 0% in the ALAN-exposed birds. Disease severity was also found to increase in line with the duration of ALAN exposure. In captive M. undulatus, ALAN exposure was demonstrated to affect photoperiodic regulation with subsequent excess mass gain and reproduction impairment, and increased susceptibility to infections plausibly through duration dose-dependent suppression of melatonin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a possible association between acute bright ALAN of increasing duration and both natural development of infections as well as reproductive cessation in captive birds. Our findings could be used to improve breeding conditions of captive birds.

Immunogenic proteins specific to different bird species in bird fancier's lung.

Bird fancier's lung (BFL) is a disease produced by exposure to avian proteins present in droppings, blooms, and serum of a variety of birds. Although serological test results are currently used to confirm clinical diagnosis of the disease, bird species specificity is poorly understood. This study aimed to contribute to a better understanding of the specificity of immunogenic proteins revealed from the droppings of three bird species. Sera from four patients with BFL and two controls without exposure were analyzed by Western blotting with antigens from droppings of two pigeon and budgerigar strains and two hen species. When the antigens from the droppings of the three bird species were compared, the profile of immunogenic proteins was different and there were similarities between strains of the same species. Only one 68-kD protein was common to pigeon and budgerigar droppings, while proteins of 200, 175, 140, 100, and 35 kD were detected as specific in one bird species. These results provide insight to further characterize these proteins, and to design new serological tests specific to different bird species. These tests may help to refine strategies of antigenic exclusion and also to allow a patient compensation in case of BFL of occupational origin.

[Measurement of bird specific antibody in bird-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis].

Since the avian antigen is one of the important causative antigens in hypersensitivity pneumonitis, measurement of bird-specific antibody should be readily available. We measured IgG and IgA antibodies against pigeons and budgerigars by the ImmunoCap system in bird-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis (BRHP) to evaluate their diagnostic utility. In acute BRHP, antibodies markedly increased and showed high sensitivity and specificity ranging from 75-100% based on the cut-off values determined by ROC analysis. In chronic BRHP, antibody reactivity slightly increased, showing a sensitivity of 27-73% and specificity of 45-100%. Pigeon antibodies evaluated by the ImmunoCap system showed a good correlation with anti-pigeon dropping extract antibodies measured by ELISA. In conclusion, measurement of antibodies against pigeons and budgerigars are helpful for the diagnosis of BRHP.

Antigen-specific IgG antibodies in feather duvet lung.

BACKGROUND: Feather duvet lung (FDL) is a rare subgroup of bird fancier's lung (BFL). We were interested in determining antigen-specific IgG antibodies in patients with FDL and comparing them with those with BFL. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Specific IgG antibodies against goose and duck feathers, analysed with an automated fluorimetric enzyme immunoassay, were measured in healthy subjects (group A, n = 30), in patients with FDL (group B, n = 10) and with BFL (group C, n = 35); typical specific IgG antibodies of BFL in groups B and C. RESULTS: An optimal threshold value for antibodies against goose or duck feathers to differentiate patients with either BFL or FDL from healthy subjects was determined at 10.85 mg L(-1) for goose feathers and at 8.81 mg L(-1) for duck feathers, respectively. Specific IgG antibodies against goose feathers were significantly higher in group B compared with group C. A ratio of specific IgG antibodies against goose feathers and budgerigar antigens with a threshold value of 0.91 could discriminate between patients with FDL and BFL with a specificity of 97% and a sensitivity of 90%. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to demonstrate the significant difference in IgG antibodies in patients with FDL and BFL and their contribution to discriminate between these similar kinds of extrinsic allergic alveolitis.