I highly recommend this DVD both for veterinarians and for veterinarians to offer to bird owners at the time of their bird’s first examination. It gives entertaining and credible coverage of points that are typically included in any well bird examination.
What a fun little ride this second installment of the Expert Companion [...]
Every once-in-awhile a resource comes along that is significant enough that it [...]
Metabolic bone disease (MBD), while prevalent, is not commonly reported in the [...]
Regarding testing for avian bornavirus (ABV) and proventricular dilatation disease (PDD)….. While [...]
Yesterday, I vasectomized a peacock. The procedure itself was straightforward, but it [...]
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Testing for Avian Bornavirus
Regarding testing for avian bornavirus (ABV) and proventricular dilatation disease (PDD)….. While we do know that some genotypes of ABV can cause PDD, it is not the same as ‘ABV is the cause of PDD’. At this time, there are 7 recognized genotypes of ABV.
Several people, including some researchers and especially labs, are clearly stating that ABV causes PDD. This was brought up at the European Association of Avian Veterinarians meeting in Spain this April. It was noted that at least one of the commonly referenced studies supporting ABV as a cause of PDD was not designed properly to exclude other non-ABV causes of PDD. In reviewing that study, I absolutely agree.
Additionally, it was made clear that many parrots are ABV nucleic acid positive that never develop PDD, ABV can cause disease in birds that is not PDD and many birds with PDD have no detectable ABV. Rossi et all confirmed the hypothesis that PDD in parrots is a result of an autoimmune reaction that is independent of a specific viral cause (including ABV, paramxyovirus and probably others). Many parrots that have confirmed PDD also have anti-ganglioside antibodies detectable in their serum. Current work shows that detection of anti-ganglioside antibodies is far more predictive of the development of PDD than is detection of ABV.
With the current data, I believe that PDD is an autoimmune reaction that can be caused by numerous risk factors. I do believe that (certain genotypes of) ABV is one of those risk factors. Given that so many birds test positive for ABV, I find it difficult to recommend routine testing. The exceptions are with either high risk populations (such as highly endangered parrots) or with populations that have been established as ABV-free. In those situations, I would recommend ABV screening prior to bringing the birds into the population. My position on ABV testing is likely to change pending the available research and the tests available.
Dr Scott Echols