immune to PBDF

[ann]

i have just read something that said south american parrots are immune to PBDF, this is what it said:
"New World Parrots" (south american) are not susceptible to Beak and Feather Disease, so if your home in regularly visited by flocks of native birds (especially Lorikeets and Sulphur Crested Cockatoos which can carry the deadly virus but can be asymptomatic) then please consider a South American parrot. Even if they come into contact with a sick or infected bird they will not contract the Virus, to date there have been no documented cases of B&FD in Sth American parrots."
I'm skeptical, opinions?

 

[ann]

any opinions?

 

[cdog]

That would be awsome because I have 8 conures in my house right now and would hate for them to get that disease.
I don't know if that is true though.

 

[Mudkips]

Hmm interesting.
I have a conure that likes to sit and watch the Lorikeets, Rosellas, Gallahs and Sulphur Crested Cockatoos in the park. He also likes to hang out with the aquatic birds
I can't say I've noticed any birds with PBDF in the Australian wilderness before (admittedly I don't pay much attention )
I truly hope Birdy is immune!

 

[keepsmiling]

" Cases of PBFD have now been reported on all continents"
Psittacine beak and feather disease - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Alisana]

i have just read something that said south american parrots are immune to PBDF, this is what it said:
"New World Parrots" (south american) are not susceptible to Beak and Feather Disease, so if your home in regularly visited by flocks of native birds (especially Lorikeets and Sulphur Crested Cockatoos which can carry the deadly virus but can be asymptomatic) then please consider a South American parrot. Even if they come into contact with a sick or infected bird they will not contract the Virus, to date there have been no documented cases of B&FD in Sth American parrots."
I'm skeptical, opinions?

Sadly, that was the belief. But there have been proven cases of South American parrots that have contracted it. While they can't contract it as easily as Australian native birds, and are more resistant to it, (not sure if it's due to their feather type or biology), they can contract it regardless.

Another word of caution - lorikeets, while able to "recover", they are actually still carriers, just without the side effects. So if you do keep a lorikeet that has contracted PBDF, then ensure to keep it away from all your other birds.

I'll see if I can track down the original article. It might have been in a magazine or book, but I can't remember right now.

 

[Alisana]

I found a citation to an article, but can't find the actual listing.

"Psittacine beak and feather disease in a scarlet macaw (Ara macao)"

In another article "Beak and feather disease virus haemagglutinating activity using erythrocytes from African Grey parrots and Brown-headed parrots"

It is interesting to note that BFDV is capable of agglutinating erythrocytes collected from Australian birds (Raidal et al. 1993a; Sanada & Sanada 2000)
and African birds (this study). However, a study by Soares et al. (1998) found no haemagglutinating activity of BFDV using erythrocytes from red-shouldered
macaws (Ara nobilis), orange-winged Amazon parrots (Amazona amazonica), blue and gold macaws (Ara ararauna) and blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva) which are all South American birds. African and Australian birds are considered to be highly susceptible to BFDV while South American birds are generally regarded as being more resistant to infection by this virus. It is interesting to speculate if the ability of BFDV to agglutinate erythrocytes is related to the pathogenicity of the virus in a particular species of bird."

 

[ann]

I guess not, it would have been great if they were.

 

[Alisana]

I guess not, it would have been great if they were.

Apparently they developed a vaccine in the US with another country (can't remember which) but the cost of manufacturing and distributing the vaccine was too high and it's not a "priority compared to cats, dogs and human immunisation". *sigh*

The cost was in the millions and millions of dollars. While I can see where they are coming from, cost perspective-wise, it's very frustrating being an Australian where the disease IS a risk with native wildlife, and worrying about how to prevent airborne transmissions.

I've yet to see a case myself, but I've talked with breeders who have had to cull anywhere from 25 to 60% of their aviaries just to save their stock and stop the spread. It's so saddening.

 

[Oedipussrex]

I read somewhere that even though they have 2 vaccines that do kinda work, they haven't mass produced either of them. Apparently Birds who did not show clinical signs of the disease but were carriers, and were vaccinated were then more likely to present the disease. And if a bird already has it and you didn't know, and then it gets vaccinated, and then it shows signs of the disease - lawsuits about the vaccinations causing the disease would be 'unavoidable'.

Pickle has become quite an issue for me. I'm keeping him, and i will take care of him. But i live in australia, and hope to get into research or conservation. And so i must be extra vigilant about what and where he goes, and where i disinfect and which clothes i wear with him.
I was going to volunteer to be a foster home for the RSPCA for some parrots but thats out of the question now as well. :/ Its pure luck and just as well that i hadn't done that already. before we found about about him...

 

[ann]

I read somewhere that even though they have 2 vaccines that do kinda work, they haven't mass produced either of them. Apparently Birds who did not show clinical signs of the disease but were carriers, and were vaccinated were then more likely to present the disease. And if a bird already has it and you didn't know, and then it gets vaccinated, and then it shows signs of the disease - lawsuits about the vaccinations causing the disease would be 'unavoidable'.

Pickle has become quite an issue for me. I'm keeping him, and i will take care of him. But i live in australia, and hope to get into research or conservation. And so i must be extra vigilant about what and where he goes, and where i disinfect and which clothes i wear with him.
I was going to volunteer to be a foster home for the RSPCA for some parrots but thats out of the question now as well. :/ Its pure luck and just as well that i hadn't done that already. before we found about about him...

I'm so sorry to hear about pickle, you are very dedicated and loving for keeping him. Even though you cant foster, you can always spread the word. Its a shame the vaccine isn't as good as it sounds, it could be very helpful.